Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

As we sit in this Chamber, the Global Sumud Flotilla approaches ever closer to Gaza. We do not know what the coming hours will bring. We wait with much trepidation and concern for our fellow Irish citizens, citizens of the world and our fellow Oireachtas Members, including my colleague Senator Chris Andrews, with whom I am in contact every couple of hours. Yesterday, along with some colleagues, I met with family members and loved ones of those on the flotilla. They are anxious, no doubt about it, and justifiably very worried, but they are also full of pride and fully respectful of the wishes and objectives of those taking part in the flotilla. They understand, as do those on the flotilla, what is happening on a daily basis in Gaza while we sit here today.

What is happening in Gaza is a war on children like no other in living memory. Citing UNICEF, UNRWA has stated that in the past five months of the war, an average of 540 children have been killed every month. We see the footage on almost a daily basis. It hardly bears thinking about what those families are going through, the children left without parents and those maimed for life on a daily basis in what often seem to be deliberate attacks on children and innocent people.

The Tánaiste spoke about the famine situation we are seeing. Has there been, for generations, a famine that has taken place within reach of so much food and so much supply? I cannot think of any example. At an Oireachtas joint committee meeting last week, we heard from UNRWA representatives that during the ceasefire, 4,200 trucks entered Gaza in a week. Before the attacks and the genocide, 700 trucks arrived daily. Now, on a typical day, there are fewer than 50 or 60. We are seeing famine play out, with tens of thousands of people malnourished and at risk of starvation. Following on from that, of course, is the potential for disease, illness and all the human suffering that will follow.

A great deal of the discussion in the Oireachtas on Gaza, Palestine and the Middle East generally has focused on the occupied territories Bill. The people of Ireland, and the people of Palestine, deserve to know what the Government will do on that legislation and what will be in it. The Oireachtas joint committee was very clear in its position that there must be a ban on goods and services. The entire point of the occupied territories Bill, and what it represents, is that it is an extension of the decision of the International Court of Justice. It is about applying international law. It is about ensuring there are consequences for actions. The advisory decision drew no distinction between goods and services. People deserve to know what will be in the Bill. People right around the country are asking what the Government will do. Some actions have been taken but this one is crucial. It has been spoken about internationally and has led to other countries acting. There should be no arbitrary distinction between goods and services. The Government must show leadership by putting in place a ban without further delay. It would send a clear message that the occupied territories are illegal settlements and nobody should trade goods or services with them.

Most of my comments have focused on Gaza but I take the opportunity to welcome the condemnation of attacks on Syria by Israel. It is also important to express concern regarding attacks on minority groups in Syria, particularly the Druze and Christian communities.

I will comment briefly on the proposed deal announced by the US and Israel in recent days. Our priorities for Gaza are an end to the genocide, unrestricted access to aid, the release of the hostages and a long-term peace deal. Any peace deal that will end the wholesale slaughter of tens of thousands of people in Gaza should be welcomed and efforts to that effect must continue on the part of everyone. Of course, our hope is that a deal will bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted aid to the strip and a long-term peace agreement. However, it should be noted that the details are high level and vague. The implementation details will be key. Unfortunately, past experience suggests that considerable caution is warranted. There have been numerous examples of bad faith on the part of the Israeli Government in breaking previous ceasefires. Mr. Smotrich is already attacking the plan as a whole.

It is also crucial that the pathway to Palestinian self-determination and sovereignty is not lost in this. Great strides have been made in recent months towards full and proper recognition of Palestinian statehood. Self-determination and statehood are recognised in the plan as an aspiration of the Palestinian people but no clear roadmap is provided nor is there any mention of the West Bank. Caution is warranted. We will monitor the situation regarding the flotilla with great care. If there is action against it and if any harm comes to an Irish citizen in the next few hours, the Government needs to say to the world that Israel's days of acting with impunity must end.

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