Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Yesterday, in response to a similar question, I condemned unreservedly the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. There has to be an independent, prompt and thorough investigation into the killings of 15 emergency responders. As far as I am concerned, they were murdered. The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, tweeted about the matter this morning. I think his words sum it up:

More than a month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have reopened. It's time to end the dehumanisation, protect civilians, release the hostages, ensure life-saving aid and renew the ceasefire.

In remarks to journalists he also said, "Gaza is a killing field and civilians are in an endless death loop." What is going on here is horrific. It seems that the Israeli government is hell-bent on collective punishment of the people living in Gaza - it has been doing this for a while - but also on making life a living hell for anyone who lives there.

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