Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

I reiterate my appeal to the Minister to make arrangements to visit Gaza as soon as possible. Notwithstanding any other initiatives he must make in the region, I call on him to ensure they include visiting Gaza to observe the impact of the blockade. I also call on him to condemn the ongoing actions of the Israeli state. The ongoing aggressive development of settlements is illegal and offensive and runs contrary to all international resolutions and instructions. It is important that the Minister condemns the Israeli state.

The Minister mentioned the death of a 16 year old who was killed by a Hamas missile. All of us want a peaceful resolution to the conflict but in terms of scale the Israeli state has killed 50 people recently and 170 people since the end of Operation Cast Lead which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 people over a number of weeks. It is not good enough to call for an end to hostilities. It is important to take a stand by telling the Israeli state its behaviour is reprehensible and must be condemned by Ireland, Irish people and the international community. I urge the Minister to condemn the ongoing actions of the Israeli state in Gaza.

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