Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. At the outset I acknowledge his role and leadership in the previous Government in supporting the previous Government so that Ireland was to the fore in supporting Palestine and supporting a two-state solution while calling for the unconditional release of hostages. However, I utterly reject his assertion that this Government has in any way changed in that position or that view. I assure him, other Deputies in the House and every other person listening that this remains an absolute priority and is central to our foreign policy in the Department of foreign affairs and in the work that we do as a Government. In fact, this issue will be raised at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday which the Tánaiste will attend and where they will engage with Palestinian authorities. The Tánaiste will be relaying our very clear commitment to a peaceful solution, a two-state solution and the absolute need for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza but also the unconditional release of hostages.

Like the Deputy, I am also utterly appalled by the resumption of air strikes by Israel and I utterly condemn that. I utterly condemn the murder of aid workers and hospital workers in recent weeks, including people with bullet wounds who were found with their hands bound. These were not people who were shooting at anyone; these were aid workers who were there to protect people. Really, this is a war on children. In the first week after air strikes resumed, 1,000 children were maimed or murdered and thousands more are at risk now. Millions are at risk of starvation. Our priority and our focus have not changed and will not change.

The Deputy will ask what we have done. In recent weeks and months alone, we have given €20 million more in funding to UNRWA. Even though it is not being allowed at the moment, this is the only organisation that we know can support Palestinians. That is on top of the €72 million in funding that has previously been provided to protect.

The Deputy mentioned the ICJ case. The Attorney General made an interjection and as part of that following the ruling, on 28 May last year we recognised the State of Palestine. We have been constantly pushing forward when other countries are pushing back. We have worked collectively with our colleagues in Europe, in particular Spain and Norway. We have used our platforms, in European Councils, elsewhere on the international stage or in the visits that have happened in recent weeks and months to make our position absolutely clear: what is happening is wrong. The murder of innocent children and civilians is wrong. The resumption of air strikes is wrong. The preventing of humanitarian aid into Gaza is wrong. The fact that hostages have not been released is utterly wrong. I condemn Hamas and the fact that it is continuing to cause this, and continuing to inflict pain and harm.

Our focus must be on making sure that the ceasefire deal, which brought about some bit of reprieve and a stay and a pause for the millions of people, is resumed and put back in place so that aid can be immediately resumed to the millions of people who are suffering and that the hostages can be released.

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