Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I have not had a chance to see those amendments yet but I met the Tánaiste this morning and I know he is working on it. If we can agree an all-party motion on this matter, that would be beneficial and would send a very strong statement beyond this House to the people and to the world more widely, but it needs to be balanced. It needs, as the Deputy has done, to condemn Hamas, to recognise the atrocities that have been committed by it, as well as others.

I will point out, once again, we condemn without equivocation the attack on the hospital last night. We will do so at EU level and we will do so at UN level as well. It was an atrocity. It certainly violated the rules of war and, beyond rules, basic humanity that civilians in a hospital should ever be targeted by anyone in any conflict or any campaign of war or terror.

It might yet prove to be a war crime. That has yet to be determined. I agree that an independent international investigation is required if at all possible.

In terms of what we are calling for as a Government, clearly we are calling for three things to happen now: for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to be observed by all parties to the conflict; that Hamas should release the hostages it is holding and should do so without conditions; and that Israel should turn the power and the water back on to relieve the burden on Palestinian citizens living in Gaza and to allow the creation of humanitarian corridors. The possibility that people could run out of water in the next few days, that a largely medieval disease such as cholera could stalk Gaza again, is unthinkable and cannot be allowed to happen.

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