Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The scale of loss of life in the latest events in Israel and Palestine can be difficult for us to comprehend. While we can be shocked, saddened and angered by the massacres, those people unknown to us can, unfortunately, become mere statistics in this terrible conflict. Unless such events touch our lives, we cannot truly know the horror and devastation of needless loss of life. These events have touched our lives. My parliamentary assistant and friend, Lara Alagha, and her sister, Yara, who up until recently worked for the Civil Engagement Group in the Seanad, have lost 28 members of their family, including young children. I cannot begin to comprehend the trauma they are experiencing. Regardless of history and persecution, the murder of innocents is not and never will be justifiable.

We know from bitter experience on these isles that historical hatred cannot and will not be solved by revenge and retribution. Each attack and counterattack exacerbates human suffering, robbing innocent people of their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and loved ones, which in turn perpetuates the cycle of hatred. We must avoid statements that blame or favour one side of this conflict or the other. We must remain on the side of humanity, advocate strongly for a political solution to this complex issue, and do everything in our power to lobby our EU counterparts to do the same. We have shown on these shores that a peace process is possible and can be achieved through dialogue and not violence. I will use some of my remaining time to observe a moment's silence for Lara, Yara, their family and all the innocent people who have lost their lives on both sides of this terrible conflict.

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