David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

A negotiation was made without reference to Hamas. The ambassador stated that he had not heard one solution or positive suggestion. I will give him one. Israel should talk to Hamas, the appropriately elected Government of Palestine, regrettable as that may be, in the same way as it speaks to the regime in Egypt. Every time an Islamic government is elected, the United States, the West and Israel combine to subvert it.

I find that quite extraordinary.

With regard to hospitals, schools, mosques and the rest, I am sure the ambassador will be aware that the rockets are often fired by flying columns and the Israeli army knows perfectly well that they have left by the time it responds. Let us consider the UNRWA school into which 3,000 Palestinian civilians were directed. The co-ordinates were given 17 times to the Israeli army but the Israeli army blitzed it. I find that extraordinary. I wonder if he has any comment to make on it.