Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Reports from Gaza this week reflect the utterly horrific and worsening suffering of people there. It is not only the 30,000 dead under the brutal Israeli bombardment but now we are seeing children in Gaza dying of starvation. It is appalling, a man-made famine unfolding before our eyes in Gaza, with despairing families and aid workers, and stalling on peace talks. We still see this relentless, ongoing, genocidal bombardment by Israel. We clearly must renew our efforts, on a cross-party basis here at home, in calling for peace and being a voice for peace. Can the Minister update this House on what his Government is doing at EU level to ensure there is a voice for peace coming from Europe? Can he say if his party is going to back Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission, given that she has clearly been more pro-Israel than the people of Ireland would wish, particularly given what we have seen in Gaza?

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