Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's statement earlier on the ongoing attacks and crisis in the Middle East. In particular, I welcome the announcement of additional humanitarian funding from the Irish Government.

The latest escalation in Israel and Palestine has been deplorable. Reports that more than 200 Palestinians, including 62 children, and nine Israelis, including two children, have been killed are shocking. I support calls for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire.

A reported 1,600 rockets have been fired as part of a barrage against Tel Aviv and southern Israel. These indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas are completely unacceptable and must stop. The targeting of residential areas in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Defense Force, IDF, has been disproportionate and has resulted in a significant loss of life and has injured thousands. This is unacceptable and must stop.

Equally, demonstrations across the West Bank and Israel, which have resulted in the loss of life and destruction of property and livelihoods, are completely unacceptable. We have seen the targeting of media outlets and media buildings in those attacks.

Authorities must do more to keep order and protect civilians. Irish people have been rightly appalled by the rapid escalation of violence, which undermines the peace process and, ultimately, the shared objective of a two-state solution.

I join with other Deputies in this House in sending a clear and united message that the cycle of violence and bloodshed needs to end now. Tentative reports this afternoon that there has been a lull in violence and that a ceasefire may be approaching are welcome. I hope all sides will use their influence to end the conflict and recommit to developing a peaceful settlement.

I, along with my colleagues, would say that the UN Security Council has a role to play here. It is important that we collectively use our voice in this Chamber to say that we want to see a peaceful resolution in the Middle East as quickly as possible for the people of the Middle East.

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