Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I will share time with my colleague Deputy Duncan Smith. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome the motion. I also express our solidarity with all those on the Global Sumud Flotilla. We think especially of the Irish activists on board the flotilla, including our colleagues in the Oireachtas, Deputy Barry Heneghan and Senator Chris Andrews from my constituency. I acknowledge the family members of those on the flotilla, and say they must be so worried about their family members who are on board but they should also be justifiably proud of those in the flotilla. We owe them an immense debt of gratitude for standing up and taking a courageous stance and calling out the brutal genocide being perpetrated by Israel upon the people of Gaza. The brave and courageous stance they are taking is important in a global context. I condemn outright the attacks on the flotilla perpetrated by Israel, a flagrant breach of international law. We can and must do more to call out Israel's actions on this.

As we all hope for a ceasefire and for a path to sustainable peace for the people of Palestine, we know Israel must be held accountable for the horrors it has inflicted on the people. More than 60,000 are dead and there is devastation, bombardment, man-made famine and children dying in their thousands. This cannot be allowed to continue and I express our solidarity with those in the flotilla who are calling it out, as we all must do in the House and throughout the country.

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