Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is obvious that Netanyahu's Israel is operating a policy of slaughter, starvation and famine. That is how he intends to ensure that not only will there be no Palestinian state, there might not be a Palestinian people. We all dread what is ahead in Rafah. Sinn Féin welcomed the Taoiseach's letter to Ursula von der Leyen. As Deputy Ó Laoghaire stated, it is somewhat shocking that there has not been a reply to that letter. If the humanitarian conditions of the EU-Israel association agreement are not being breached at this point in time by Israel, then nobody will ever breach any humanitarian conditions. Does a review require unanimity? Another meeting of the European Council is coming up. Weak and late though it may be, will there be a call for a ceasefire? Attention must be drawn to the fact that not only have Germany and others supported Israel politically, they have supported it in the weaponry sense.

It is also about what Ireland can do. We know prelegislative scrutiny of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 is under way. That is something we can do now It is a means of ensuring the State does not put any money into illegal settlements. Has progress been made in respect of recognising the state of Palestine? Do we have any takers in Europe or elsewhere who will join us in doing that necessary work?

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