Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, said on Sunday, "If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area". Ramadan begins this year on 10 March. That is the start of the week in which the Taoiseach presses his shirts and packs his bags to fly off to the United States for a celebration with President Joe Biden. Has the Taoiseach considered the fact that the most bloody episode of the Israeli state's entire genocidal campaign might now coincide with him providing a bowl of shamrock to a man who, despite cautioning against a ground invasion of Rafah, has been Israel's main provider of finance and weapons? Does he think this is an appropriate moment for a celebration with this man? Does he think it is an appropriate moment for a present of a bowl of shamrock? Does he not think it is time to reconsider his plans for 17 March?

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