Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

We are taking action under the International Court of Justice. That is how it works. That is how we hold people to account at international level. We support the international courts and make a submission. It used to be the demand of the Opposition that we would do that. We have done that. We remain committed in respect of that but we also remain committed to the peace plan. I presume that is a plan the Deputy supports. We have to give this plan an opportunity. We have to give the opportunity for peace. Yes, we must pursue accountability and, yes, Israel has committed genocide. I do not dispute those facts at all. Yes, we will continue with the case before the ICJ and work with South Africa. We will continue to support the ICC. All of that is true but it is also true and reasonable to say to the starving people of Gaza today that our priority now is flooding Gaza with humanitarian aid. Our priority now is making sure that the peace plan works and that will involve Israel living up to its obligations but also Hamas. It needs to get off the stage. It needs to disarm. It has no future under this peace plan. There is no future for a terrorist organisation. We know what it is like in this country to have our identity hijacked by a terrorist organisation that offer the people of this country no future. Hamas now needs to get off the stage and give the Palestinian people a chance.

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