Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

Today it is 80 days since the humanitarian aid blockade of Gaza began. This regime has long since passed the threshold for what would constitute legitimate defence following the horrific and condemnable Hamas attacks on October 7. This was already genocide before the deliberate and inhumane blocking of lifesaving food, medical supplies and shelter, not to mention continued bombing, but new lows continue to be reached. The UN says no aid has yet been distributed in Gaza despite a few lorries starting to cross the border after 11 weeks. It estimates 600 trucks a day are required to begin tackling this chronic humanitarian crisis, so nothing is happening in real terms. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said today that as many as 14,000 babies could die in Gaza if Israel does not immediately let aid in. These babies are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and many of them will die over the next number of hours if food is not supplied. What is this if not another Holocaust? To be clear, it is sanitised extermination. There is no defensive justification. It is murder, pure and simple. The entire conflict over decades has been one-sided in terms of the atrocities committed, with Israel responsible for multiples of deaths. There have been ratios of 20:1, 30:1 or 50:1 depending on the sources and time periods. One life is precious and any life is precious, but the facts are undeniable. Despite this the world watches and lets the murder continue, except for a few lone voices.

It appears things have got so horrific that even the EU, or at least some of its constituent member states, may be waking up. At this week’s meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas announced the European Commission would review the EU-Israel association agreement. We have yet to see what details emerge, but even from a signalling perspective this marks the first formal response to mounting calls for stronger EU action over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is long overdue even if it is too little too late and if the Government was involved in pushing for this then fair play, but we need real, tangible action and not platitudes. The EU has a preferential trade agreement with Israel that allows Israeli goods to enter European markets with reduced tariffs. Suspending this would significantly impact the Israeli economy and potentially force the Israeli government to reconsider its policy. There are a whole load of areas of co-operation where engagement could be frozen and in this respect I ask the Minister of State to ask the Tánaiste whether there have been any discussions on whether the EU could restrict banking and financial transactions with Israeli institutions that support settlement expansion and military operations. This would make it harder for Israel to fund its activities in Gaza and the West Bank. For our part, we need to hurry up and bring the occupied territories Bill forward at the earliest opportunity. While it was good to see the arms embargo Bill pass to the next Stage in the Seanad unopposed, I hope the Government will continue in that spirit over the coming months and get it passed through the Dáil.

As I have said before, and feel compelled to say again because of the propaganda machine out there, I have nothing against the Jewish people. I condemn antisemitism. I acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. However, it is a powerful state that is abusing its power and committing atrocities. I feel for those families attacked by Hamas and condemn it outright, but this is nothing, in number terms only, compared to the atrocities being carried out against innocent Palestinians. As I and others have said, one life is sacred, but anyone with a moral compass will recognise Israel has committed way more atrocities. This is why we in Ireland stand steadfast with the oppressed in Gaza. We know what it is like to be oppressed and we will not be intimidated in the face of any threats from the Israeli government or indeed from the White House. It is good the rest of the EU and Europe appears to be finally waking up, but we will see. We must remember change only comes about when the bullies are confronted head on.

See this speech in context