Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The interventions made this morning have been reflective of the depth of feeling throughout the House and throughout Ireland on this issue. It is impossible for most of us to imagine the scale of the suffering of the Palestinian people, given the catastrophe inflicted by the IDF on the Gaza Strip.

It is important that we remember the suffering of people in the West Bank, where there has been a surge of violence by the Israeli military and by settlers against Palestinians. We should also recall the suffering of all those who lost loved ones in the attacks by Hamas on 7 October, and those who are still held hostage in Gaza.

It has been impossible to escape the horror of what has been happening in Gaza. Day after day we see people who have been killed, the survivors who have lost their families, the injured and the displaced. The images and testimonies of the victims of this violence are harrowing. These people are suffering greatly and the world must demand a ceasefire.

The proceedings at the ICJ initiated by South Africa are continuing. Ireland is a strong supporter of the work of the court and is deeply committed to international law and accountability. Yesterday and today, the Government has outlined the position on making an intervention in the case on the basis of our legal analysis of it in light of any order of provisional measures. Notwithstanding some of the interventions made by Members of this House in the past 24 hours, Ireland remains a leading voice in the search for peace. We are globally recognised as a leading voice on this issue due to our consistent and principled stance. It would be remiss of the Government to undermine this reputation by taking ill-considered steps.

In the European Union, Ireland has played a leading role calling for a durable humanitarian ceasefire. At the EU Foreign Affairs Council earlier this week, the Tánaiste participated in discussions with the Palestinian and Israeli foreign Ministers, as well as those from Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. EU Foreign Ministers heard the Tánaiste's appeal for the EU to speak clearly and consistently in support of a durable ceasefire. The current position of the EU to call for humanitarian pauses is inadequate in the context of the current situation. The Tánaiste will continue to argue that calling for an immediate ceasefire should be the common position for the whole of the EU as it is for the majority of member states. Ireland, along with a number of like-minded member states, is advocating for greater leadership on the part of the EU that better reflects the views of member states, of the global international community and of the EU's fundamental values, including our commitment to peace.

Ireland's position has also been clear and consistent throughout our involvement in international organisations, including in the UN General Assembly and at the UN Security Council. Ireland supported the General Assembly's resolutions that called for a ceasefire. At the UN Security Council open debate yesterday, Ireland intervened to support the work of the UN Secretary General and UN organisations and their staff. The disinformation campaigns by Israeli actors against them have been unwarranted. It is imperative that they are able to carry out their vital work unimpeded.

Ireland used this platform to reiterate our condemnation of the brutal actions of Hamas on 7 October and to call for the cessation of indiscriminate rocket attacks and the immediate release of all hostages. As a strong supporter of international law and the multilateral system, Ireland believes there should be accountability for the actions of states when they breach international law. The right to self-defence can only be exercised in line with international humanitarian law. As in all armed conflicts, the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality, as well as the prohibition on collective punishment, apply. All actors, including non-state actors, have binding obligations under international law, which prohibits targeting civilians.

For the people of the Gaza Strip, their most urgent need is an immediate ceasefire and a vast increase in humanitarian aid. Their situation is dire and continues to worsen. We have already heard that more than 25,000 people have been killed. More than 60,000 people have also been injured and many are without access to the medical treatment they desperately need. The casualties of this continued onslaught are enormous. Each number represents a life ended or irrevocably altered. The numbers grieving are greater still, and they include people here in Ireland with loved ones killed, injured or displaced in the Gaza Strip.

Most of the population of Gaza has been displaced.

The Gazan authorities report that the Israeli military has destroyed or damaged over 60% of homes. Israel continues to destroy infrastructure in Gaza, including health and education establishments. The population is now under threat, not only from military force but from starvation and preventable diseases. Horrifyingly, in the midst of such medical need, only 16 of 36 hospitals in Gaza remain even partially functional. It is vital that the people of Gaza be able to get necessary medical treatment. It is appalling that not enough medical supplies are getting through and that hospitals are still being damaged. Additionally, the availability of safe water in Gaza continues to diminish. The supply of fresh water affects not only drinking water but also washing and sewerage. Palestinians in Gaza are suffering soaring rates of infectious diseases. The World Health Organization has issued dire warnings about the potential combination of a lack of proper sanitation, hunger and the collapsing health system on the population, not only now but in the decades to come as the long-term effects of this level of deprivation continue. The supply of water, food, medicine and fuel into Gaza must be increased drastically. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and cannot be allowed to deteriorate further. It is vital that provision be made for more aid to enter.

In the shadow of such devastation, it is important not to forget the appalling situation in the West Bank, which is extremely concerning. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that, since 7 October, 358 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including eight killed by violent settlers. Since 2005 when the UN's records began, 2023 has been the year with the highest number of Palestinian casualties in the West Bank.

It is crucial we be live to the threat of a further regional escalation of the conflict. The attacks by the Houthis in Yemen on civilian shipping in the Red Sea not only put lives and crews at risk but have a detrimental impact on global trade, the knock-on effects of which hurt the poorest. I am deeply aware of the continuing tense situation along the blue line between Israel and Lebanon. We cannot allow a further escalation of violence, which would have a catastrophic effect.

Ireland continues to do all we can to call for an immediate ceasefire. We must prevent the conflict from continuing. The conflict will not only result in further deaths but also prolong the cycles of violence that have plagued the region for generations. We must not lose sight of the prospect of a peaceful and secure future for all the people in the region, however distant that might seem. The first step is a ceasefire now without delay.

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