Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the situation in Gaza. As the first anniversary of the Israeli invasion of Gaza approaches, I commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, on his strong stance on the issue. His request to visit Gaza was refused by the Israeli authorities, as was a similar request by the French Foreign Minister. Despite this refusal, the Minister for Foreign Affairs called on the Israelis to allow a European Union delegation to visit the area to see the humanitarian crisis which has evolved in the past 12 months as a result of the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure.

A London court has issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli Foreign Minister for war crimes. Ireland was one of only five EU countries to support a United Nations resolution calling for an investigation into war crimes in Gaza. The 554-page report investigated by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs could be discussed during the debate. It contained a report of a disturbing incident where three girls aged nine, five and four were shot by Israeli soldiers even though they were holding a white flag in their hands when they approached an Israeli tank. A soldier appeared from the tank and shot the three girls dead. If that is not worthy of investigation by the Israeli Government, no crime is. However, the Israelis do not want anyone to investigate why these three girls, holding a white flag when they approached a tank with two Israeli soldiers sitting on top and posing no threat were shot and killed. I commend the Irish Government on being only one of five countries in the EU to seek an investigation into war crimes in Gaza. That our EU colleagues do not deem these lives lost worthy of investigation is a disgrace. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on these crimes and others.