Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Míle buíochas le Sinn Féin as an rún seo. The State of Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. The UN special committee to investigate Israeli practices has said that Israel's war on Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide. Some 70% of all people who have been killed in Gaza were women and children, and the figure is even higher for non-combatants. Aontú urges the Government to recognise that the ethnic cleansing of parts of Gaza, the banning of food, water and medical aid, the countless massacres and the countless schools and hospitals that have been bombed are war crimes.

Aontú believes in self-determination. All nations should have the right to self-determine. Self-determination is a basic democratic right. It is not a philosophical question for the people of Ireland. Self-determination has been an existential question for Ireland for many generations. That is why generations of Irish republicans sought to fight for freedom against the British Empire 100 years ago and it is why parties such as Aontú believe in the full independence of the Thirty-two Counties of Ireland.

Occupation is the denial of self-determination. The occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is absolutely wrong. No one should profit from Israel's occupation of Palestine. No one should profit from the denial of self-determination to a whole people. Yet, that is what this regime is allowing to happen at the moment. Doing business with those who illegally occupy another country reinforces that occupation. Doing business with those who deny self-determination to a people is complicity with the denial of a democratic human right.

We fully support the occupied territories Bill to ban trade with Israel's illegal settlements and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill to ban Irish State investment in entities complicit with the illegal settlements enterprises. Further, we will support all calls for an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal settlements.

Aontú believes that Ireland should in no way give to the Israeli war machine. We seek to make sure that Irish airspace and airports are devoid of the transit of weapons components, tech surveillance and any other items that help the Israeli war machine to maintain its illegal occupation and commit war crimes against the people of Palestine. We believe sanctions are an important part of international pressure and this should mean the end of dual-use items that are often used for both military and civilian use by Israel. We believe there should be the conducting of ethics audits to ensure that Irish public institutions are in no way complicit or co-operative with links in regard to the occupation of Palestine. We need to do all we can to save lives and maintain human rights.

Freedom of speech has come under pressure in many western countries in recent times as people have started to use that speech in the defence of the people of the occupied territories and Gaza.

Aontú is a party with a very strong belief in freedom of speech. Aontú also completely opposes the vicious violence of Hamas. We believe that there must be the peaceful coexistence offered by a two-state solution in the region in the future.

I am often asked why the Irish people feel such a sense of solidarity with the people of Palestine. The truth is that many, if not most, Irish people see themselves in the eyes of the people of Palestine. Irish people understand that our history allows to us to see that living next door to a large, brutal military regime has enormous consequences for civilians as well. It is really important that the Government starts to recognise the fact that we cannot continue to allow for those responsible for illegal occupation and illegal settlements to profit from trade with Ireland. Peace cannot be built without justice, and justice is a foundation stone of any future peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine. Illegal occupation and illegal settlements are the polar opposite of justice. Enforced illegal settlements are a form of violence. They are a source of grievance, strife and provocation. The question that this Government faces is how we can use our influence to bring about justice in the region. How can we use our influence to bring about peace there? The only way we can do it is through the use of the euro and economic tools.

I urge the Government not to renege on the promises it gave to the Irish people just six or seven weeks ago regarding the occupied territories Bill and to fulfil its obligation, while it has the opportunity, to do right by the people of Palestine. The Government has an opportunity to put action behind the words it has used for so long with regard to what is happening in Gaza and Palestine.

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