Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Exactly. I would add that I spoke very much in favour of that motion yesterday. I said I not only was not opposing it but also wanted to see it taken forward. I believed it a constructive addition to the discussion. Government and Opposition need to work more together on the common values we share and our desire to see an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza, perpetrated by the Israeli Government.

Before coming to the Deputy’s question, I wish to take a moment to express my deep sadness at the shooting dead of two staff members of the Embassy of Israel in Washington on 21 May. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and send my condolences to the families of those killed.

When it comes to Gaza, I fully share the Deputy's deep concern at the appalling humanitarian situation. I have consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance - I think that is at the heart of the Labour Party motion - that does not ensure access for the entire population. Recent days have seen a small amount - if you could even call it that - of aid being permitted to enter Gaza. It is completely out of proportion with the scale of humanitarian need, which continues to grow.

Alongside that, it is linking humanitarian aid to political and military motivation, which you can never link to access to food and basic humanitarian aid. I, along with international partners, continue to apply pressure on this point and the motion in the House yesterday was helpful in that regard. Close co-ordination with like-minded partners is central to the work we are doing.

A shared priority with European and regional partners at this time is the UN high-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. The conference will take place in New York in June and will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The conference was mandated by way of a resolution adopted on 18 September 2024 at a reconvened tenth emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Palestine. That will provide an opportunity for Ireland in person and at a very senior Government level to raise the issues we have discussed. We are already beginning to raise those issues. I had a meeting with my officials today. I will come back in on that point.

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