Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Gaza is a tiny enclave 41 km long and 11 km at its widest point. It has endured a military and economic blockade since 2007, effectively imprisoning almost two million people in an area the size of 362 sq. km.

For almost two weeks now, this third most densely populated spot in the world has been under sustained and shocking bombardment by one of the best armed military forces on the planet. We know that at least 230 Palestinians are dead, including 65 children, which I read as I came into the Chamber. The rockets launched by Hamas against Israel have killed ten people, including two children, and two other Israelis have also died in civil unrest.

The scenes emerging on our televisions have horrified all right-thinking people. We expect a ceasefire to be agreed, particularly after the intervention of the US President, Joe Biden, this week. We also know, however, that actual ceasefire will not come about until the Israeli military is satisfied that it has bombed and destroyed every target it wishes to.

As the Minister said, a ceasefire is and must be our first priority. The first thing we must achieve internationally is to stop the killing, but what then? Do we refocus on other issues until the next flare-up of violence or do we seek now to join anyone willing to join us in taking a stand?

The international community has an understood settlement for the Israeli-Palestinian disagreement, which is two separate sovereigns states, Israel and Palestine, both with sustainable and viable territories and borders, sharing Jerusalem as their capital. On occasions in the 1990s, this objective was thought to be within our grasp. Now, it has been systematically undermined by years of Israeli settlement in Palestinian territories. It has been undermined to the point that many academics and politicians alike have despaired of its implementability. The viability of a Palestinian state is now in question because of the obvious policy of Israel to dismantle it.

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has sought to build a common position internationally, on which I commend him, at the United Nations, where the United States prevents any consensus emerging in the Security Council, and in the EU, where countries like Hungary prevent a common position emerging. So be it; it is time for Ireland to act.

During last week's Priority Questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I said there must be a consequence for the outrageous actions we see, which assault human rights and all international norms, and not the normal verbal condemnations but concrete actions.

Today, Norway's sovereign wealth fund dropped two companies that were involved in the development of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are called Shapir Engineering and Industry Ltd. and Mivne Real Estate KD Ltd.

We, too, must take a lead in meaningful economic sanctions aimed at any company, individual or state entity that violates international law by supporting or facilitating illegal settlements. The rights and legal entitlements of an entire nation cannot simply be extinguished by a sustained, deliberate and relentless policy of dispossession, eviction and suppression.

The only hope for long-term and sustainable peace, as we in Ireland know only too well, is to provide a basis for both communities to coexist, with equal rights, as citizens of two separate nations. The real security rightly sought by the people of Israel can only be guaranteed when an acceptable settlement, not one forced by strength of arms, is mutually agreed by both sides. I believe the people of Ireland want their Government and their Parliament to act now to build the international pressure to bring this about.

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