Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

I thank Deputy Duncan Smith for moving this motion. We in Sinn Féin are proud to be co-signatories. I send my solidarity to Sophie Ní Choimín, atá ar stailc ocrais anois.

Earlier this month, Dr. Trish Scanlan reminded us in the audiovisual room that for death to be counted by the Gazan health Ministry, three criteria must be fulfilled: the person must have died as a result of a violent attack; the person must be presented to a hospital; and someone must be able to identify the person. These criteria do not include the thousands lost under the rubble, nor those who have died from a lack of access to medicine or from starvation, hypothermia or drought.

Israel is committing genocide. It has been called a genocide on children because that is what it is. The use of the term “wounded child, no surviving family” has emerged as part of this terror. The kids are being starved to death. Tens of thousands of children are at risk of death from starvation, and the blockade must be ended. Children are starving less than a couple of miles from food. It is really hard to believe that children are dying of starvation within sight of food. I cannot imagine what it must be like for parents and those who know food aid is close by but who are being blockaded and prevented from gaining access to it.

I welcome the fact that the Government is not opposing this motion, but it well knows the difference between not opposing a motion and supporting it. I urge it to support it, enact in full the occupied territories Bill, support our legislation on the sale of Israeli war bonds and do everything it can, because it will be judged not by its words but by its actions.

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