Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Government on taking this decision. It is of some historic significance and I know the Government will have come under pressure not to do so. Ireland once sought international recognition and so we are proud today to stand with Palestine to help it take its place among the nations of the world. I commend the Tánaiste, in particular, on the manner in which he has represented the views of the Irish people in recent months. We do not have to agree on every point to appreciate the sincerity with which he has approached this issue. However, the recognition of the State of Palestine is not enough. It will not save lives in itself. I found it particularly poignant to hear the voice of a little Palestinian child in the Gallery earlier. The Palestinian people need an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The hostages must be released. The man-made famine and medical disaster for injured civilians can be stemmed if Israel stops blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza. The EU can and must act by suspending the trade agreement with Israel. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner, with 32% of Israel's imports coming from the EU. The Government can send a further message of solidarity by passing the occupied territories Bill to ban any goods and services produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The reality is that there is one man with unparalleled influence to bring the disaster in Gaza to an end. His name is Joe Biden, and he has to do better. We know about peace processes in this country. We know that if there is to be peace, it has to be premised on the absence of violence. We know that if there is to be peace, there must be compromise. We know that if there has to be peace, one side cannot win absolutely. In this context, we cannot have a two-state solution to this problem without a State of Palestine or without the State of Israel. This has been an awful catastrophe to watch. From 7 October onwards, each day has brought forward new and fresh horror. The scale of the loss of life is simply horrific. It is emotionally gut-wrenching. It is anger-inducing.

The decision by the Irish State, along with those of European friends in Spain and Norway, to join many other countries in recognising the State of Palestine is an important one. It is symbolic but, in and of itself, it will not save a single Palestinian life. Only Israel can do that. We understand that Israel feels under siege. We understand, too, that for historical reasons, Israel has an understandable sensitivity to its place in the world. We know that Israel finds it hard to understand that when we in Ireland look at this problem, we do not primarily see Israelis and Gazans, but David and Goliath.

What has taken place in recent months has added to Israel's insecurity. Hamas cannot be eliminated by perpetuating the grievance that sustains its existence. To begin to put in place an end to this tragedy and this conflict, we need a peace process. The career of a single politician cannot be allowed to impede this necessity. President Joe Biden, in many ways, has had a remarkable Presidency but on this issue, the conflict in and over Gaza, the United States and President Biden have not had the courage of their convictions. President Biden knows that there is no long-term security for Israel that does not cater for the national aspiration of the Palestinians. You cannot say you advocate a two-state solution by word if those words are not matched by deeds. You cannot and should not protect an Israeli state that is not open to a genuine attempt to relaunch the peace process. You cannot do good while ignoring or cajoling a bad-faith actor. While tragedy unfolds on a daily basis in Gaza, the geographical basis for the two-state solution is being undermined by extremist settlers in the West Bank. In the face of the sheer horror of the last few months, there is only one legitimate response by the international community - try again, try harder, try seriously.

I say to you, President Biden, from these Houses, that discreet phone calls to try to rein in Netanyahu is not global leadership. Your current approach is prolonging this tragedy, not shortening it. The evidence shows that your strategy is contributing to the loss of life in Gaza and elsewhere. To you and the incoming UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, I say this. You know Ireland well and you know our peace process too well to think you have one going on in Israel and Palestine. You have got to do better than that. Others stand to help in good faith, but you have to lead and a Labour Party Prime Minister in the UK must also lead. Without a peace initiative involving the United States, the UK and the EU, we will witness the continuing brutalisation impoverishment and radicalisation of the Gazan people.

I fear we will have to witness more of the horrific scenes from Rafah that shook everyone to the core this weekend.

This war on the people of Gaza will not bring security to Israel. It will only create another generation brutalised by war, orphaned by war and intent on revenge. The longer that Israel continues its action in Gaza, the further we get from peace. Since mid-October, we have witnessed the entire population of Gaza herded from pillar to post, increasingly desperate for food, shelter and medical aid. Aid has become a negotiating card, not a humanitarian priority. The basic infrastructure of a functioning society - hospitals, schools and playgrounds - has been systematically razed to the ground. This is the intentional destruction of the Gazan people and their society, and an attempt to bomb them into a hand-to-mouth existence. It is the collective punishment of an entire people for the crimes of Hamas. It is genocide. It is a moral outrage and Israel has to stop.

Last week, we joined with our EU partner, Spain, and our European partner, Norway, in recognising the State of Palestine. We also know that other European states, such as Portugal and Slovenia, for example, are in favour of recognition in principle and are seeking a broad EU consensus before making further moves. This only serves yet again to underscore how dangerous and arrogant the actions of Ursula von der Leyen last autumn were. She does not represent the people of Ireland or the millions of Europeans who have marched to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. She does not represent the people of Ireland. Her credibility among the people of the European Union is at zero. At the time of her visit to Israel last autumn, we knew we were on the brink of a disproportionate Israeli military response, engendering a human crisis on an unprecedented scale. In short, we knew that thousands of Gazans would be killed and injured by the Israeli military, yet she said she stood with Israel. Her unilateral decision to give a blank cheque to the Netanyahu government was reckless, senseless and immoral. Ursula von der Leyen has lost all moral authority. She cannot lead the European Commission for another term.

In conclusion, last week was a proud one for Ireland. I pay tribute to those in campaign groups across Ireland who have kept the flame of peace alive over the decades and who have highlighted the plight of the Gazan people. However, our work in this House and beyond cannot stop at symbols. As I mentioned earlier, there are practical steps that Ireland and the EU can take to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire. Most importantly, we have to use our influence to lay the foundations for a real peace process, a peace process that delivers dignity to the Palestinian people and security to the people of Israel. We know it is possible. We know the first step is a ceasefire and that a ceasefire has to happen now. We should lead in demanding an international boycott of the Israeli state on all fronts, on all levels, until that ceasefire begins and the steps to a process of peace begin.

To Palestinians in Ireland and across the world, your existence is your resistance and we recognise it here today.

See this speech in context