Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Irish NGOs and their sister organisations working in very difficult conditions trying to bring humanitarian aid to people who are suffering greatly. That should be recorded.

We are talking about a crisis that is decades old and the result of political failure and the continuous displacement of Palestinians. In view of the Chairman's question, I take it that the ambassador is still very committed to the two-state solution, notwithstanding the huge expansion of settlements and the proposal on the pre-1967 borders. The proposal is one the Fianna Fáil Party which I represent has always advocated, as have successive Irish Governments. Does the ambassador condemn the rocket attacks targeting innocent civilians in Israel and what can be done to prevent them in the future? Does the ambassador accept that Israel is entitled to enjoy peaceful co-existence with Palestine? What prospect is there of Hamas disarming in order to progress a two-state solution? I understand the chief negotiator presented some proposals to the Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, yesterday. Will the ambassador refer briefly to the timetable envisaged in the proposals?

I thank the ambassador for his contribution. He outlined a very startling picture which is amplified more when we think of the casualty figures. The most recent figures I had seen for the conflict indicated that 2,116 Palestinians had been killed in the offensive in Gaza, of whom 495 were children and 255 were women. It is estimated that 70% of the victims were civilians. Equally, I condemn the murder and killing of 71 Israelis, including four civilians. I deplore violence from whatever source it may emanate.