Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that call. We need ceasefires. We need peace. We need an end to the bombardment and the blockade, and the suffering inflicted mercilessly by Israel on the Gazan population. Let me just say to the Taoiseach what we do know. We know that Israel has bombed hospitals in Gaza before. It is a repeat offender in this regard. We know that Israel ordered the evacuation of hospitals. We know that Israeli spokespersons have defended the targeting of hospitals in urban settings. Above all else, we know that Israel has been allowed by the international community, time and again, to break international law. The Taoiseach has recognised those violations himself. I ask him now, on behalf of the Irish people and as Head of Government, to condemn the actions of the Israeli Government in this regard.

I support the Taoiseach's call for a ceasefire. That is where we must go - make no mistake about it - but equally we need to call out and condemn the actions of Israel. Will the Taoiseach do that?

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