Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am just articulating international law. Every state has the right to defend itself, but I was very clear that that right comes with responsibilities for the unique position that the region is in, the position in which Palestine finds itself and the way Gaza is constructed. Two million citizens are living there and there are being subjected to risks. Actions must be in compliance with international humanitarian law. I am pointing out the actual facts of the situation. I am very clear about what Ireland needs to do. Ireland has to be the voice of reason and try to get as much aid as we can for people who are going to be very vulnerable in terms of the damage that will be done to their infrastructure and to which so many of them will be exposed. We will try to get the funding increased. We will also work with our counterparts in the region. We have had a number of visits to the region and we have tried to make an effort to build consensus. The situation is very complex and it is difficult to achieve consensus. Unfortunately, we are now in a very uncertain situation and that is going to be the case, but Ireland will continue to work to support the people in the region. When we look at the death toll in Palestine in the first quarter compared to last year, there has been a sixfold increase in the number of people injured and a threefold increase in the number of victims killed, which is horrific.