Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Europe Day celebrates peace and unity in Europe, but as we know and are witnessing there is no peace in Gaza and the occupied territories at this moment. This is a huge responsibility and weakness in the foreign policy of the European Union and how it operates in its neighbourhood. It is now more than 50 days since any food or medicine has been allowed into Gaza. Europe, with a few exceptions - Ireland being one and Spain another - has, by and large, remained silent. If not silent, it has tacitly supported Israel's actions in Gaza. The statement a couple of days ago from Benjamin Netanyahu that operations would increase means that, in essence, what has been happening until now has been some kind of operation that has been holding itself back and things will go full force with an almost full-scale invasion. Yet, Europe still remain silent.

We in this House have called for the occupied territories Bill to be passed. We all know the extent of that proposed legislation and the limited impact it would have. We know how important the symbolic nature of the Bill is, more so than anything else. At least it is something. We in Europe need to go even further. We need to escalate cultural, sporting and academic boycotts of Israel. The Eurovision Song Contest is coming up in a couple weeks. Israel should be allowed to take part and celebrate something as fun and joyful on the Continent of Europe and globally as Eurovision. It should be kicked out. It should not be allowed to participate in any sporting events. The same was done, and rightly so, with Russia over the past couple of years.

Yet, Israel is still allowed to take part in international events as if it is a mature, responsible and peaceful member of the global community. It is not. It is a rogue nation that is inflicting genocide on the people of Gaza - I do not use the word "genocide" lightly or easily. However, when a country is systematically starving an ethnically homogenous population, exercising huge military dominance over them and physically pushing them south out of their lands, there is no other word for it. For Europe to celebrate Europe Day and peace and unity while this is happening before our very eyes gives a lie to the underpinning of the European Union and what makes the European Union, at least in theory, a great coming together of nations.

Europe needs to reflect on itself and act. The United States is remaking the global world order in terms of its relationship. I will use the words of the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, who is not someone of my political persuasion, to illustrate a point. He said the United States cannot be trusted as an international partner any more. That is regrettable, but it is a fact. The European Union needs to step into the breach as an economic and cultural power and voice for peace. It is failing in its first go because of what it is allowing to happen in Gaza. It is not even speaking out against Israel, never mind what we are calling for in terms of cultural, academic and sporting sanctions.

Again, such action will not save any lives in Gaza but it will bring home to every person, organisation and part of society in Israel that we in Ireland and Europe will not support its actions. We want Israel to pull back, revert to a policy of peace and ensure that the people of Gaza can help to rebuild their communities and society which have been destroyed as a result of 20 months of active aggression. We need to make sure Europe will not stand for another minute, never mind a day, of blockades of medicine, food and water. This is intolerable to the spirit of the European Union. It is intolerable to the people of Ireland and the majority of people in the Chamber. It should be intolerable to every single European state, but by its silence, acquiescence and support of Israel it is not. It is doing a disservice to what the European Union should be and is making a mockery of Europe Day.

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