Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that a deal to release hostages has been reached between Israel and Hamas. Everyone in this House is hopeful that Emily Hand will be among the first hostages to be released. My thoughts remain with her family at this extremely difficult time. I also welcome the release of 150 Palestinian women and children who have been detained in Israeli prisons. Taking hostages is a war crime but snatching children and babies from their families and using them as hostages is especially despicable. All hostages should be released immediately.

On the other aspects of the deal, Israel should not be congratulated for doing the bare minimum. Ensuring that 2.3 million people in Gaza have water to drink and food to eat is not something praiseworthy. Starving and dehydrating millions of people is a war crime; let us not pretend otherwise. The refusal to allow medical supplies and fuel into the Gaza Strip, which led to the deaths of countless patients, including premature babies, was another war crime. Israel has now said it will stop the bombing for just four days before it resumes the carnage. We cannot allow this slaughter to continue. More than 14,000 people in Gaza, including nearly 6,000 children, have been murdered.

Israel has systematically targeted hospitals. A few hospitals in the south and one in the north of Gaza are just about functional. According to the World Health Organization, none is equipped to treat critical trauma cases or to perform surgery. Before 7 October, there were 36 hospitals in Gaza. Just over six weeks later, the healthcare system has been deliberately obliterated. When medical supplies flow into Gaza, where will the patients be treated? Given that, at the last count, at least 220 doctors and healthcare staff have been killed, who will treat patients?

On Monday, the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, issued a stark warning to the world. He said: "We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I have been Secretary-General." If Israel is determined to continue this barbarism, there must be consequences. I have repeatedly raised with the Taoiseach the issue of economic sanctions at EU level. Last week, he told me that he would get legal advice on whether the human rights clause of the EU-Israel trade agreement has been breached. Has he done that? Will he give a commitment to pursue the suspension of the trade deal at EU level?

Next Wednesday, 29 November, is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It would send a strong message of support and solidarity to Palestinian people if the Irish Government were to recognise the Palestinian state on that day. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who has just been re-elected, has said this is one of his priorities. It is something he intends to pursue at EU level. Will the Taoiseach support those efforts?

See this speech in context