Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. We can all agree that the scenes we are witnessing on television and on our social media feeds are simply shocking. To be frank, I find it very hard to watch the news these days. Tomorrow is the ninth birthday of Emily Hand, a beautiful young child we believe is being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. As the Deputy will know, our Tánaiste is in the Middle East right now, putting in the hard yards and the hard work of international diplomacy. He is trying to make progress in securing the passage of the remaining Irish citizens in Gaza, advocating for peace and having many difficult conversations with those he needs to talk to on behalf of the Irish Government to advocate for peace and for a ceasefire because the humanitarian situation we are witnessing in Gaza is simply appalling.

Israel has a right to defend itself. What Hamas did on 7 October is unspeakable. The Tánaiste is visiting some of the sites where those massacres by Hamas took place. However, in defending itself, Israel has to act in accordance with international humanitarian law. Ireland, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the entire Government have been very consistent and clear on that.

On the calls to expel the Israeli ambassador, international diplomacy and maintaining channels of communication is not about staying close to your friends or endorsing policies. It is about keeping channels open for when you need them and we need them now because, in trying to secure the safe passage out of Gaza of the remaining Irish citizens there and in trying to be heard in advocating for peace, it is important that we continue to communicate and have dialogue with all of those in the region. We have approximately 400 peacekeepers, Irish men and women, in the region so Ireland has to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. However, when we see the need, we will also call Israel out. In our view, the level of force that has been used is completely disproportionate. Civilians should be protected. Gaza and Hamas are not the same thing. The civilians in Gaza should not be subjected to collective punishment by the Israeli Defense Forces.

Ireland is an important actor. We have a voice and we are being listened to. Our Tánaiste, who is there at the moment, deserves the steadfast and fulsome support of everyone in this House in what he is seeking to achieve. He is advocating for peace and trying to secure the release of all hostages and secure passage for the remaining Irish citizens from Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. He is having those difficult conversations right now in the Middle East.

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