Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)

At the outset, I acknowledge the protesters who gather every weekend around this country, and what the Irish people have done to stand up for Palestine and what they continue to do. I want to acknowledge that in the House today and thank them for it.

I extend deepest solidarity to the Palestinian people who are living under unimaginable and horrific suffering and starvation at the hands of the Israeli Government and its allies. The outbreak of this horrific genocide is approaching its second anniversary. Gaza has been flattened to the ground. There have been more than 66,000 deaths. In one week alone, between 3 and 10 September, 499 Palestinians were killed. Almost 170,000 people have been injured and 90% of the population has been forcibly displaced. There has been prolonged and enforced starvation on a civilian population. Famine was confirmed in Gaza for the first time by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said Israel is committing war crime upon war crime. There have been 248 journalists killed and 540 aid workers slaughtered. Humanitarian aid has been weaponised by the Israeli Government, which controls every access point and aid distribution network. All aid distribution must be independent, impartial and neutral in line with humanitarian principles.

As I stand here today, I wonder what it will take. I go to different gatherings, as the Minister does, and I hear people talking about the occupied territories Bill. We both work in the business sphere. I hear businesses saying that services should not be included in the Bill. It is up to this Government to lead and to implement the occupied territories Bill without further delay. It has to be done. We have to stand up. Recognising the State of Palestine has to mean more. At a minimum, it has to mean implementing the occupied territories Bill, whatever it takes. We are willing to come in here day or night to do that.

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