Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As I said, the situation is barbaric. We urgently need to facilitate a high-profile visit by the international community to Gaza, including both political and media representatives, who could see at first hand the level of destruction and the appalling situation the civilian population there is now in. That would do more than anything to change the situation and the momentum of war in Gaza. The occupied territories Bill is being progressed. On its own, it will not change the mindset of the current Israeli Government, I am afraid. We have taken many measures already in respect of the issue, from recognition of the State of Palestine to intervention in the genocide convention case and the ICJ judgment and so forth. However, the international community collectively must bring all of its influence to bear to stop this.

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