Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend this timely motion on this crucial issue. We are nearly four months into the genocide in Gaza - the first genocide to be live-streamed across the world. A record number of bombs have been dropped, killing over 25,000 people in Gaza in just three months, including over 10,000 children. Some 95% of the hungriest people in the world are now in Gaza, as the Israeli Government uses starvation as a weapon of war. A lack of clean water, sanitation, and the destruction of the healthcare system means diseases are spreading rapidly among nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. Israel is deliberately inflicting all of this death, injury, illness and suffering on a captive civilian population in Gaza with the intention of wiping them out with more bombs and more bullets.

On Friday, a record number of people tuned in to watch the ICJ ruling, which has clearly stated that Israel must be investigated for genocide. The statements read out by the judge, from Israeli Government and military officials, made their intentions very clear. If Ireland and the international community remain silent, the war crimes we have seen up to now can be expected to continue.

The Government is obliged, under Article 1 of the convention, to take measures to prevent genocide. As it stands, it is failing in this obligation. Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste, has said that he would consider joining the case after Friday's ruling. What is there to consider? There is nothing left to hide behind. Inaction now will be forever remembered as cowardice in the face of appalling injustice. Has the Government considered what will happen if we do not join South Africa?

This genocide must be stopped and so we must support the motion for Ireland to join South Africa at the ICJ. Another day of fence-sitting in this House is the difference between life and death on the other side of the world. We should not be on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of humanity. Gaza needs action, not empty rhetoric and certainly not business as usual in organising trips to America in March especially not under the guise of organising peace.

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