Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Israel is moving into the next stage of its murderous onslaught in Rafah. There are no words to describe the horrendous outcome we may see where 1.5 million Palestinian people are under bombardment in a small area of land. In the midst of this horrendous scene, it is heartening and uplifting to see students at Trinity College Dublin taking action to insist on divestment, sanctions and an end to co-operation with this genocidal state. The students are doing a great job in working with the authorities in Trinity to force divestment from the Israeli state. Look at us in here. We are well paid and well resourced but we have not done a thing. We talk and talk but have done nothing. I put it back to the Taoiseach to start taking sanctions against Israel and to take a leaf from the books of students who are protesting all over the world to demand sanctions against this onslaught.

Deputy Boyd Barrett has two letters here for the Taoiseach. One is from 356 health workers who have personally signed a letter asking the Taoiseach to, please, do something about Rafah. The other is from Mothers Against Genocide and asks that something be done about the children, because this is a war on children.

Finally, 15 May is Nakba Day. The Taoiseach knows what that means. We have requested that the Palestinian flag be flown at Leinster House on Nakba Day. I want everybody in the House to back that request for the Palestinian flag to be flown for one day. The Ukrainian flag flew for long enough. We are asking that the Palestinian flag be flown on Nakba Day. We hope Trinity College will do the same on that day. It is very important that we act and take a leaf from the books of the students whose courage, bravery and determination is actually getting places and forcing sanctions, not just here but around the world.

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