Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to use this opportunity to express my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Pierre Zakrzewski on his awful killing in Ukraine. I want to reference the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in Palestine. The murder of Shireen makes me fearful.

Whatever Israel gets away with, it always goes further. The Minister referred to the recent attempt by a European Parliament delegation to enter Israel and Palestine. In 2014, following the most recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip at that time, I was part of a European Parliament delegation that sought access into Gaza, access which was denied by Israel. Of course, further bombardments and worse atrocities followed. This week, we saw that Israel now feels it has the authority and ability to essentially deny an entire official European Parliament delegation access to Palestine. That speaks to what happens when Israel gets away with something; it always goes further. Therefore, I am very fearful of what is in store for the Palestinian people. It is getting to the point when people rightly ask how much further these guys can go. Israel has now, in front of the world's media, murdered a journalist in cold blood.

I want to put on the record my appreciation of the strong language the Minister used today and has used on a number of occasions in respect of Israel. I again relay my own experience in the European Parliament. I know his use of the language to describe the actions of Israel is among a minority among EU foreign ministers. It is something I deeply regret. In many European states, the Israeli lobby and the misguided policy of appeasing Israel is the order of the day. We cannot allow that majority, as it may be, within EU foreign ministers to prevent us from speaking on behalf of the majority of humanity across the world. The Minister's words must be followed by strong actions on behalf of the Irish people and I urge him to heed the calls heard today.

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