Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I thank People Before Profit for bringing this motion to the floor of the House. I welcome the announcement of a possible ceasefire and the release of hostages and for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza. I hope the people of Gaza can find some peace while the Israeli bombardment stops.

Over the past few weeks, we have been watching a genocide unfold before our eyes. More than 14,000 people have been killed, including 5,000 children. More than 1.7 million people have been displaced and one in every 200 residents has been killed in a matter of six weeks. It is mind-blowing. People are distraught watching this unfold in front of their eyes. That is reflected in the mass demonstrations of people here and all over the world.

I support in particular the reference in the motion to the genocide convention. I want to know what the Government will do. The most important thing we can do now is make sure this genocide does not resume. We need overwhelming economic and diplomatic pressure to be put on Israel so that after the four days or so have elapsed, Israel does not start its programme of genocide again. Netanyahu has already stated the terror will start again after any ceasefire.

The Government must take action now. Part of the action, along with the many demands in the motion, is a campaign to hold Israel to the conditions of its trade treaties with the EU. If we do not lead a campaign in Europe to uphold human rights provisions in EU treaties with Israel, then the human rights provisions in any EU treaty are not worth the paper they are written on.

Finally, the use of Shannon Airport by the US military has always been a stain on our history and our neutrality, not just for what is happening now to Palestinians. There should be no foreign military use of any facility in this country. I support the motion in regard to that call in particular.

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