Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)

There are times when we are lost for words. We see the absolute horrors being inflicted on the people of Palestine on our screens every day. It is hard to watch but we must continue to share these stories. Children and babies are starving to death. Israeli snipers are shooting children in different parts of their bodies - sometimes at their hearts, sometimes at their heads and sometimes at their genitals - just for fun or for target practice.

I watched last night, on a video, a young boy aged approximately ten or 11 running away from the Israeli advance in Gaza. He could not understand why he could not breathe and he did not realise he had been shot in the neck as he was running away.

The Taoiseach is meeting today with EU leaders. We rightly condemn Russia and sanction it, ban leaders and support the Ukrainian people. We rightly call for the upholding of international law and human rights, but not for the Palestinian people. Why are they denied the same rights, supports and sanctions from the USA, Britain and the EU? Those who dare to lecture the world on human rights and international law, the so-called "upholders of international laws on human rights" and of so-called "western values", all stand exposed as the liars and hypocrites that they are. They say that there will be no deal on Ukraine without Ukrainian people. That is absolutely correct, but the Tánaiste said in his speech as well that there should be no deal in Syria without the people of Syria. Where is the cry for no deal on Palestine and Gaza without the Palestinians? I hope with all my heart that there will be a deal and there will be genuine peace for the Palestinian people but I fear that this so-called "deal" is just another false dawn for the people of Gaza and also for the people of Palestine.

I will not use the Israeli propaganda of hostages or prisoners; I will use the word "hostages" for both Palestinian and Israeli hostages who are being held. Palestinian children, adults and women, in their thousands, are being held as hostages by the Israelis.

The Israeli Government has broken every deal and every ceasefire with no repercussions. I fear we will see this deal exploited by the Zionist regime to use it as a cover to continue its genocide.

I wish to extend my solidarity to the Global Sumud Flotilla and wish it a safe journey. I want to know if any civilian delivering aid to Gaza is harmed, that the international community will hold Israel to account. Words mean a lot, but actions mean even more.

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