Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank People Before Profit for putting forward this motion. I have an overwhelming sense of déjà vutoday. Last week, I spoke passionately on the same issue during Private Members' business. Palestinians in Gaza have been subject to occupation and oppression for decades. Multiple generations of men, women and children have been born into and subjected to torture and systematic, unlawful and arbitrary killing. How much more carnage must Palestinian people endure before we fellow humans call "Halt"? According to the Gaza Ministry of health, 14,000-plus people have been killed by Israeli attacks since 7 October, almost half of whom were innocent children. Cén luach atá ar shaol leanaí? What price for the life of a child or anybody's life?

Hospitals have been bombed. Schools in which people were sheltering from bombing have been deliberately targeted and destroyed. Refugees fleeing south at Israel's demand were bombed and killed as they fled. Gazans are prisoners at Israel's whim, deprived of water, power, fuel, medical supplies and basic humanitarian aid. Is the Minister of State aware that members of the UN food security sector have been unable to deliver aid to north Gaza as access has been virtually cut off by Israel? Gazans have been starved, with bakeries deliberately destroyed. There is no bread, no water and no medicines. There are children with nothing to eat and newborn babies whose mothers cannot feed them. Bombed hospitals are struggling to treat thousands of injured people with no morphine. One can imagine feeling the pain of amputation or burns and being given a paracetamol. It would not cure a migraine let alone ease the pain of amputation.

Israel must face consequences now for actions that fly in the face of every international and human rights law. Last week, Sinn Féin called for this House to refer Israel's actions to the International Criminal Court. I repeat that call today. Justice and right must be served. The Government needs to step up to the plate and provide strong leadership at EU level. It must intensify its calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages. I welcome that some hostages are being released but it must be all, not some. The eyes of the world are on us. Ireland is 25 years into a peace process that is the envy of this world. The people of Palestine and Gaza deserve the same. A full ceasefire is needed. I am very disappointed that the Tánaiste has left the Chamber.

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