Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Palestinian ambassador here today and everyone who was in the Gallery earlier. I will start by sending solidarity to the 1 million Palestinians besieged by the Israeli onslaught in Rafah. Ireland and the world is standing in shock and horror at what we are seeing unfold. Now we must come together to force Israel to stop this genocide.

It was a proud day last week when Ireland stood in front of the world along with Spain and Norway and announced we would recognise Palestinian statehood. We will not just be recognising the Palestinian state; we will be recognising the 70 years of struggle by the Palestinian people to hold on to their right for justice, self-determination and peace. I have seen it suggested that somehow by recognising Palestine we are rewarding Hamas. By recognising Palestine we are showing that we will not reward genocide. More than 36,000 people have died since Israel began its military campaign last October. It has attempted to drive Palestinians from Gaza by inflicting terror, starvation and destruction on them. They are attempting to wipe out Gaza from the face of the earth. Recognising Palestine is a small show of defiance in the face of this genocide.

What Hamas did on 7 October was horrific and what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people now is genocide. I welcome that the international court has named Netanyahu, the Israeli Minister for Defence, Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh, for war crimes.

We will never know the true death toll from this attack on Gaza. Some 31 of its 36 hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. The World Health Organization has recorded over 890 attacks on health facilities since Israel began its current campaign. There are reports of bodies being found in a mass grave at Nasser Hospital with their hands tied behind their backs. Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza’s ability to count its own dead.

Last year saw an increase of nearly 600% in Irish exports which have dual military and civilian use to Israel. Many Members have mentioned this today. Dual-use products made up 13% of Irish exports to Israel in 2023. That compares with 0% to 1% on average to other countries. Every year, Ireland pays the Israeli Government-owned weapons company Aeronautics Defence Industries $250,000 to maintain drones we have bought from them. This is the same company that is supplying aerial vehicles and drones being used to kill Palestinian people in Gaza. We have spent €14.7 million on military imports from Israel over the last decade. Israel is now Ireland’s fourth biggest market for all types of goods with sales mostly of computer circuits growing to €4.8 billion. There is no doubt our continued trade with Israel, especially military imports, is fuelling this genocide. This will be remembered for what it is: a genocide facilitated, supported and supplied by the West. We will be remembered for how we react. We are still fuelling this genocide. These exports must stop. We must divest from Israel. We must implement sanctions now. The world must force Israel to the table to negotiate a meaningful and lasting peace. We need a State-led campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions until there is a deal for peace, independence and self-determination for all Palestinians. I believe the Israeli people can play a role in this and remove Netanyahu and this Government. Get your family members home and negotiate peace.

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