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

Having murdered 34,183 Palestinians, including more than 13,000 children, Israel is now turning the focus of its genocidal onslaught towards Rafah, the last remaining shelter to some 1.5 million Gazans. Israel's most heinous behaviour is not a new phenomenon for those sheltering in Rafah, the majority of whom will recall the previous onslaughts in the past decade or more. The majority of them were already refugees in Gaza and are now doubly refugees in Rafah.

We know from Israeli operations in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis exactly what will unfold. Safe areas, humanitarian workers, civilians and children will be purposely targeted. This will be a massacre that will have been announced weeks in advance in plain view of a hypocritical and uncaring international political system. A groundswell of the vast majority of humanity has joined the call for a ceasefire now in Gaza. They have taken to the streets in their millions in cities and communities in every corner of the world. It is incumbent on those of us in political life to meet their calls with decisive action, utilising every diplomatic, economic and political measure at our disposal, not only to sanction Israel for its blatant, cruel and cowardly disregard for international law and the basic rules of humanity, but to recognise Palestine, Palestinians and their innate, unwavering, dauntless and indomitable dignity, aspirations and ambitions.

The UN General Assembly vote is positive, but it is long past time that this Government fulfilled the mandate given to it by this House by setting a date on which it will recognise the state of Palestine. We have heard mention of 21 May. The Tánaiste said this was a leak from the Slovenian side, but the Taoiseach will have to tell the House when this is going to happen. We need to make sure that there is a Palestinian-----

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