Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I was a member of that delegation. I join the Minister in condemning the recent killings in the area, including of eight people at a seminary in Jerusalem and an Israeli soldier but also particularly the 106 Palestinians, half of whom were civilians and 25% of whom were children. The facts were distorted and all were presented as being militants.

I am glad the Minister accepts that what is taking place in Gaza is a siege. It is a siege of 1.5 million people, 1.1 million of whom are fed by the UNHRA and 300,000 by the World Food Programme. Up to 80% of the inhabitants are unemployed. Five people died because they were denied access to Egypt for medical treatment, even though they were in a coma. Hundreds more are waiting for permission to go there for medical treatment.

What are the views of the Department and the European Union of the Israeli supreme court's decision last Tuesday that Israel could absolve itself from its obligations as an occupying power? Did the Council of Ministers discuss the permission given for the building of 500 settlement houses, with an additional 250 planned, east of Jerusalem?

I agree with the Minister's statement about collective punishment. What practical proposals, directly or otherwise, have been made by the European Union to Egypt to achieve a ceasefire? If the Union wishes to achieve a two-state solution, is it not in its interests to reverse its disastrous decision of non-co-operation with the Palestinian unity government? Does the Minister favour achieving a ceasefire as a matter of urgency with the assistance of Egypt? Does he favour the continuation of negotiations for a two-state solution through a Palestinian unity government which would include Hamas and Fatah? Does he agree with John Ging's report for the UNHRA, that the international community must press for the lifting of the siege that has continued since 15 November 2005 when free movement was blocked at the Rafah crossing which has locked the people of Gaza into a slow attrition of death.

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