Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the release of the Irish-Israeli child, Emily Hand, who was kidnapped and held hostage by Hamas. Her release and the escape of Irish citizens from Gaza into Egypt represents a triumph for diplomacy. The Tánaiste visited Israel, Egypt and the occupied Palestinian territories. As he has said, our embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv, our representative in Ramallah, and the officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs worked day and night to bring about this result. We owe them sincere thanks for the work they have done. Diplomacy works.

What are the prospects for a further extension of the truce to allow the release of all the Israeli hostages and to allow for further essential humanitarian aid to get into Gaza? What are the prospects for an extended ceasefire in the hope of stopping the proposed bombardment of southern Gaza in the coming days by Israel?

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