Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I despair but am probably not surprised at the latest genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.

I am sick to my core at the cowardly response of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who seeks to blame Hamas rockets with no reference to the instigators of this violence. We cannot look away while Palestine is decimated. The "both sides" narrative for the last week and a half has been absolutely shocking. Hamas is throwing rockets while Israel is carrying out airstrikes on residential buildings. News reports describe death tolls in Palestine in the hundreds with many more injured and children killed. Children are now speaking out in Palestine. The power of social media is bringing us their stories and the stark realities of their lives.

I unequivocally condemn the state of Israel’s apartheid aggression and the US and EU that turn their eyes away from this genocide. The inappropriate responses from President Biden and President von der Leyen and others about both sides and the comments that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas rockets while completely ignoring the rising number of children’s deaths is the worst of international politics. It is not anti-Semitic to speak out against the murder of innocent children, to boycott goods from occupied territories or to call out genocide.

Once again, the Tortoise Shack podcast has brought us harrowing on-the-ground news. A recent recording included a short podcast with Gaza-based journalist Hana Salah when loud explosions could be heard very close to her location. The short episode ended with her saying that she had to leave the building and get to safety.

The Twitter feed of the Israel defence forces is just bizarre. They are tweeting in English and have 1.4 million followers. The Twitter feed of the state of Israel has been tweeting rocket emojis. That is the state of its defence. A thread of tweets was full of rocket emojis.

On 9 December last, I moved the motion that restored Senator Frances Black’s Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill to the Order Paper of the Dáil for this term after others had refused to do so. It is time to urgently progress this Bill, which is constitutional despite the advice of the Attorney General. The Government should move it forward right away.

Ireland should also expel the Israeli ambassador. The Ceann Comhairle will remember when we expelled a Russian diplomat in a show of solidarity with the UK in 2018. The Ceann Comhairle should immediately disband the Ireland-Israel parliamentary friendship committee. It is something we as Members of this House can do right away. It is completely fair for Members of the House to say that we do not extend friendship to those who kill innocent children and civilians. Let us show Palestine that Ireland stands in full solidarity by doing the things we can do now.

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