Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I thank all Deputies for their very sincere and heartfelt contributions to what is, once again, an extremely difficult debate that has taken place against the backdrop of a genocide and a famine unfolding on our television screens or on our mobile phones in our pockets. Let me be clear from the outset: there is no room for ambiguity. The war in Gaza must end. There must be an immediate ceasefire. The unconditional and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas is an absolute imperative. Israel must fully lift the blockade and allow humanitarian assistance at scale into Gaza, delivered by UN agencies including UNRWA and partner humanitarian organisations.

It is a sobering reality that famine has been declared by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification in Gaza City and it is likely to spread throughout the Gaza Strip. The Government has been crystal clear that this is a man-made famine. Forced displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructure and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid by Israeli authorities have only compounded the catastrophic humanitarian disaster we see unfolding in Gaza.

The heinous attacks launched by Hamas against Israel on 7 October were reprehensible. We have consistently and rightly condemned the terrorist organisation that is Hamas prior to and since October 7. Hamas has brought nothing but death and destruction to Palestine and Israel.

I welcome the ongoing US efforts to end the war in Gaza. We hope and, indeed, pray that Monday's announcement from the White House is a further step towards the peace that is so desperately needed. In particular, I welcome the sincere engagement of states in the wider region to secure a path to peace and their willingness to work with the US, European and international partners to achieve this goal. There is no such thing as perfection in this situation, but an end to the sheer, bloody slaughter as a first port is certainly something we should all aspire to. Israelis have the right to live in peace and security but so do Palestinians. However, international law limits the use of force in self-defence to no more than what is necessary and proportionate. The Government's position has been clear for some time now: Israel is breaking international law in its military response to the Hamas attack, and it is, in fact, engaging in genocide. International law, including international humanitarian law, is not optional; it is an obligation that must be adhered to.

It is a crying shame that two Members of these Houses have had to follow in the footsteps of other Members of the Houses and joined hundreds of activists from around the world to try to simply break a humanitarian blockade. I have already spoken to Deputy Barry Heneghan today and colleagues have mentioned Senator Chris Andrews. I absolutely respect what they are doing, but it is an utter shame that they have to do it. That is a shame that lands on pretty much the entire western world, and I have no issue saying that, because from a humanitarian perspective, Ireland has provided over €95 million in support for the people of Palestine since January 2023, of which, more than €83 million has been provided since October 2023. This includes €58 million to UNRWA since 2023 to support its programmes in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Ireland will continue to support the Palestinian people, including through UNRWA. I am deeply concerned by the Israeli Government's attempts to smear the good name of UNRWA, including through a propaganda campaign targeting donor countries. I urge the Israeli authorities to rescind legislation banning UNRWA operations in Israel and the occupied Palestine territory, which is having devastating consequences for UNRWA's operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and in Gaza. There is no realistic alternative to UNRWA, which has a mandate from the UN General Assembly.

We have seen scores of Palestinian people come to Ireland both for study but also to receive medical attention. I am extremely grateful to my constituency colleague, Deputy Sinéad Gibney, for bringing in Bushra and Mohammed. Knowing that, while their father has been killed by the Israelis, there are still siblings and children in Gaza, and we will continue to work with all parties in the House to make sure families can be unified in a timely manner. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is completely seized of their own personal situation. Anyone who took time to speak to Bushra and Mohammed in the Gallery had to have been touched, as any human being would be.

I acknowledge the continuing advocacy from my party colleague, Deputy Brian Brennan, on the need to not forget the horrors we are seeing in Gaza and to be prepared for the rebuilding work. I am extremely grateful for his attendance, at his own expense, not just to meet people on the ground in Egypt, but also at the UN General Assembly last week where he plied a very important parliamentary impact. Beyond that we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture, namely, the enduring need for a comprehensive political solution leading to an independent Palestinian state. A ceasefire is urgent, but a ceasefire alone is not sufficient to end decades of bitter conflict. That is why Ireland is deeply committed to a just and sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland was an active participant at a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN in New York in July that was attended by over 130 countries. Ireland was part of a core group of 19 countries that prepared the conference and negotiated the outcome document, the New York Declaration, with subsequent follow-on meeting attended last week at the UN General Assembly by both the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach.

A lasting and sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must, of course, include the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state, alongside a safe and secure State of Israel. That is why formal recognition of the State of Palestine is not merely symbolic. I am proud of the leadership Ireland showed, together with Spain, Norway and Slovenia, in paving the way for recognition by others, including France and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia, two of which are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Their decision, while delayed, is welcome. We have to welcome it. At times of absolute darkness, we do need to seize the very few chinks of light.

A number of Deputies have understandably and rightly raised the issue of the occupied territories Bill, following the hearings at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade in the summer months. As the Tánaiste outlined in his opening address, and has consistently said for the past while, we are absolutely committed to bringing to the House imminently a piece of legislation that is fit for purpose. We have, understandably, talked a lot about international law in these Chambers and making sure that the rule of law is respected. We will ensure a piece of legislation will come to the House, one that all parties will be able to support. Some will say it will not go far enough, and I accept that now, based on their long-held political beliefs or involvement in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement or whatever else. I have already received confirmation from my ministerial counterparts in countries such as Spain and Slovenia, within the European Union, and Norway, outside the European Union, that have said if we get this right, they will absolutely copy and paste it. Then we will be able to build a coalition across the western world to make sure the economic gains coming from those occupied Palestinian territories are not allowed to continue.

I would like to use my remaining three minutes to refer to events at an EU level. They are increasingly important over the coming days and weeks. Ireland strongly welcomes the proposals from the European Commission to suspend the core trade related provisions of the EU-Israel association agreement. The package also proposes sanctions on extremist Israeli Ministers and violent settlers as well as Hamas. Ireland supports all of these proposals. In addition, the Commission announced it was putting bilateral support to Israel on hold with the exception of supports to civil society and Yad Vashem. It is important that, while we rightly condemn and castigate from a height the actions of this Israeli Government and regime that is propelling the IDF into Gaza, unleashing pure hellfire on the people of Gaza, there are tens of thousands of people in Israel who oppose this action and are rightly outraged by the actions of their Government.

We have seen them on the streets of such cities as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa as well as joining protests in Ireland, representing the community.

The proposals by the European Commission represent a significant step forward. For many in this House it seems like a micro step or mini-step, but those of us who have worked at a European Union level - Deputy Ó Murchú and I have spent considerable time engaging previously - will realise that in European terms, this is quite a large step forward. Ireland has consistently called for the EU to take concrete action in response to the egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. This proposal is an opportunity for the EU to demonstrate to its international partners, and crucially to its 350 million citizens, that it is ready to act in the face of the catastrophic situation in Gaza and to stand up for its core principles and respect for international law. In the next three weeks - I wish it were a shorter period - the entire Irish Government at every level will be working to build a coalition in the European Union to get a qualified majority of member states to vote to suspend elements of the trade agreement and to get to a unanimous decision to introduce sanctions.

I appeal on the floor of the House to all Members. All of us present are part of wider European networks. The left wing group Sinn Féin is part of has been consistent on this and I acknowledge that. Parties in the European Party of European Socialists and Democrats, including the Labour Party, those who are part of Renew Europe, the liberal alliance and with difficulty in my party, the European People's Party, need to work on our networks and our allies to get the qualified majority by 22 October. We have that opportunity and, by God, we have that responsibility.

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