Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I once again join the Deputy in her condemnation and the House's condemnation of the absolutely despicable actions that the Israeli state is undertaking, not just in Gaza, which it has flattened, with more than 40,000 people killed, many of whom are children, the continued actions in the West Bank, the continued annexation of land and the building of illegal settlements, and the continued persecution of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Then we have seen what we all assume and know is an escalation by the Israeli army. I will not call it a defence force in this sense because it is an offensive force here and it has been with regard to Lebanon. That is a very worrying escalation in events. We would obviously, as a country, call on our friends in the Middle East to show restraint, which I am sure is very difficult for them to do. I will revert to the Tánaiste, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Taoiseach with regard to the Deputy's intervention on the occupied territories Bill and we will revert to her.

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