Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As we mark International Women's Day this week, I want to use my time to speak about the women in Gaza, who are living in hell on earth. Their conditions are indescribable. It is like nothing we have seen before in our lifetime. Five months in and the people of Gaza are starving. Israel has deliberately blocked the delivery of aid into Gaza. What we are now witnessing is an Israeli-made famine and humanitarian catastrophe. Thousands of children's lives are hanging in the balance and their mothers are desperate and beside themselves with grief and worry. These women - mothers, sisters, daughters and friends - have been abandoned by those in power who could stop this genocide immediately if they wanted to.

Some of the stories of strength and despair coming from Gaza are unbelievable and heartbreaking in equal measure. Just this week, we saw interviews with Rania Abu Anza, the mother of two five-month-old twins, a boy and a girl, born in October. She tried to have children for ten years. She had IVF treatment three times. Both babies were killed along with their father and 11 relations when Israel bombed their home last Saturday. Nine more relatives are missing under the rubble. Rania, her husband and their babies were asleep in bed when the missile struck. Their home collapsed on top of them. When Rania was interviewed, she said of her twin babies, "I didn't get enough of them. I swear I didn't get enough of them."

Israel is bombing infants as they sleep and its evil is evident for the world to see. Therefore, to the women of Gaza I say you are braver, better, stronger and more courageous than all those in power who are raining down their bombs on you and your children while you sleep. You are braver than the deplorable psychopaths who are dropping bombs on your heads one day and loaves of bread and aid packages the next. You are stronger than those who are shooting dead men, women and children as you try to reach flour to make some food for your starving families, and you are more courageous than those who are trying to annihilate your people. You are better than those who are turning a blind eye to this genocide and slaughter, you will overcome this horrific injustice, and you will see the day when you get your own state and Palestine is free. Those responsible, who are standing back, will have to explain what is happening to future generations. We are all behind you. We stand with you. Tiocfaigh bhur lá. Níl saoirse go saoirse na mban sa Phalaistín.

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