Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their statements on this important issue. The Government is deeply concerned at the intensification of violence in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel in the past two weeks.

We welcome the ceasefire on 21 May and I repeat the call of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for its full and proper implementation, not least to ensure vital humanitarian can reach those in need. We have all looked on with horror at the scenes of destruction, death and fear that have been beamed across our television screens and across social media, the fireballs in the skyline of Gaza followed by dusty bodies of those who survived as they walk from the scene and the dusty bodies of those who did not. Those scenes of terrified women and children stand in stark contrast to the hard words of hard men, which so often dominate these discussions. The events of recent weeks have been shocking; most of all they have had a lasting and dreadful impact on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The number of child casualties - over half of all civilian fatalities - is particularly deplorable. How can this be justified? The protection of all civilians is of paramount importance and indeed is an obligation under international humanitarian law.

As was outlined by the Minister, we support the substantive motion and our amendment seeks to strengthen it. The amendment proposed by the Government condemns these attacks and also addresses the disproportionate impact of Israeli strikes on civilians in the Gaza Strip. The impact on children is especially worrying, including the long-term psychosocial impact of the trauma. As many Deputies have raised today, the escalation has worsened an already difficult humanitarian situation. Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip may be targeted at terrorists but they hit homes, they hit schools, they hit hospitals and they hit basic facilities for the people of Gaza. The destruction of homes and damage to vital infrastructure such as roads, electricity networks and water installations is equally unacceptable. It is particularly concerning to hear that UNRWA buildings have damaged have been damaged during military operations in Gaza. UNRWA plays a vital humanitarian role in Gaza and needs to be protected and never targeted. We will receive an assessment from the Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday. The €1.5 million in additional funding from Irish Aid announced last week will support the UN in delivering emergency humanitarian supplies to those in acute need. The support for psychosocial services is particularly important as the toll of recent hostilities will be long-lasting. I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the dedicated staff of UNRWA and another UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, the Red Crescent and the NGOs which continue to provide critical services and support even in the most harrowing of circumstances. It is our duty to do all we can to protect them and ensure unimpeded access for all the vital humanitarian supplies they need to carry out their work. Ireland will continue its development support through the Irish Aid programme managed by our mission in Ramallah. This programme focuses on a number of key areas including education and the promotion of human rights, including support to the important role of civil society. This year Ireland will provide €10 million in funding through this channel in support of the Palestinian people.

As many Members have acknowledged, the underlying causes of the situation in Gaza are political and cannot be solved by funding alone. What is needed is the lifting of the blockade in order that normal life and normal economic activity can resume. Gaza faces many challenges but the blockade dominates people’s lives in Gaza to such an extent that it is difficult to address other issues. Israel’s continued strategy of expanding settlements and the discriminatory practices by Israeli authorities against Palestinians are also key underlying factors in the recent escalation and tensions in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel.

Today’s motion sends a clear signal of our opposition to Israel’s settlement policy, which is in breach of international law and undermines the viability of a two-state solution. It is our view that this in fact de facto annexation. The Human Rights Council is meeting in special session Geneva on Thursday to discuss the recent events in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland has supported the holding of this session. We fully support the need for an independent inquiry into these events. Ireland remains deeply concerned about the lack of accountability for violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory. There are many aspects of the Israeli occupation which raise human rights concerns and Ireland supports a range of Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations who are combating these issues directly on the ground.

Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements at EU level and at the UN Security Council and will continue to do so. The Government's position on settlements is that we are absolutely opposed to them. Ireland distinguishes in all of its dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, calls on all states to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. This resolution reflected the position already held by Ireland, the EU and the UN for many years. For example, the Horizon 2020 Agreement, signed by the European Commission and Israel in June 2014, states clearly in Article 6 that the agreement does not apply to the territory occupied by Israel in 1967.

As the Taoiseach said last week, diplomatic relations maintain the channels of communication and engagement with all governments, including those that we may disagree with or that might have different perspectives on issues. As has been said already, cutting diplomatic ties will not save the life of one Palestinian, or anyone else for that matter. The Government remains committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. As well as important initiatives like the motion before us today, it is also critical that the international community remains fully engaged, as only by ending the occupation will these problems truly be resolved.

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