Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I strongly condemn in the most certain terms the brutality Israel is inflicting upon the innocent people of Gaza. Equally, I strongly condemn in the most certain terms the atrocious acts committed by Hamas, particularly those of 7 October 2023. The murder, maiming and unjustifiable terror being waged on innocent people on both sides of this conflict have no place in our world yet they continue, to the horror of the world looking in. The continuing Israeli military operations which have brought fresh and unwavering suffering to the people of Gaza are blatantly in breach of the ceasefire, international law and basic humanity. There must be an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and the resumption of unhindered humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza at an unprecedented scale.

Israel's blockade is pushing Gaza into a hunger crisis. It must be lifted immediately. The UN's head of humanitarian aid said that unless aid reaches the people of Gaza, 14,000 babies could die in 48 hours. It is wrong in principle and in law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population whatever the circumstances. This behaviour clearly constitutes a war crime. It is wholly unacceptable to contemplate the mass displacement of the people of Gaza or to talk about permanent occupation. Not only is it an affront to decency and international law, history tells us it offers no solution. Ireland remains convinced the implementation of the two-state solution is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for Israel and Palestine and the wider region. Ireland must continue to work with international partners to step up our efforts and achieve this goal. I recognise the stance Ireland has taken from the outset of this conflict in particularly and officially recognising the State of Palestine along with Norway and Spain a year ago this week. For a long time, we were one of few nations in the West that spoke out against the crimes being committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.

I have just come from the first meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth. The young people for whom we are setting policy today will study what we are living through as part of their history. I have no doubt they will look back with shock and, rightly, disgust at the delayed response from so many in the West - the EU, the current US Administration and others - and ask how this was allowed to go on for so long. Thousands upon thousands of children, women and men have been displaced, murdered, starved, chased from their homes and terrorised. Aid workers and journalists have been killed, hospitals have been levelled and genocide has been committed. Vital aid has been prevented from reaching people who are now being starved. History will judge what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank today. It will not be kind nor should it be. A two-state solution is the only solution to this issue. Those responsible for war crimes must answer for them. We should suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement. The EU needs to move a lot faster than it has to date. Innocent people in Palestine and Israel deserve to live in peace, free from the threat from Hamas and the Israeli military. The international community must now step up and act to prevent further war crimes, murder, killings and the displacement and terrorising of an innocent people.

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