Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The people of Gaza need our support now. They need it this evening, in the next hour and minute, because they are dying in their hundreds. These are men, women and children, innocent civilians, who have no connection with Hamas which perpetrated brutal, violent and unjustifiable acts last weekend. There is no justification for the killing of civilians on either side. All acts of violence must end immediately. International law must be respected and enforced. The forced displacement of 1 million Palestinians, half of them children, by the Israelis to the south of the Gaza line is in clear breach of international humanitarian law. The cutting off of water, food and medical supplies and the destruction of civilian infrastructure throughout Gaza amount to collective punishment and are in contravention of international law.

Let us all be clear tonight. Last week's events did not occur in a vacuum. They occurred against a sustained intensification of the Israeli state's occupation and apartheid. One look at the map of Palestine and the West Bank over the past decade will show clearly the massive expansion of illegal settlements. Every month, homes, farms, roads and infrastructure have been stolen by the Israeli state from the Palestinian people.

The only way forward towards a lasting and just peace between Palestine and Israel requires an end to the illegal occupation and apartheid system being imposed upon the Palestinian people. The solution must contain a roadmap to a viable Palestinian state. Here is how we can show international leadership. Recognise the state of Palestine and progress the occupied territories Bill and the illegal settlements divestment Bill. The events of the past 11 days have created a new urgency and need for decisive international intervention. It is in the Tánaiste's hands. We need to act because the people of Palestine, the people of Gaza, cannot wait another night.

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