Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State suggested that many children "were there out of curiosity and boredom". I was at the border protest and I met the people who were there. I saw families there. I saw mothers, fathers and children. There was a playground there. They were there because this is the only hope they have left. They are living in absolutely desperate conditions. They have no hope. The only hope they have is these protests. They marched to the border to try to let the people of the world see the situation they are in. I met staff from non-governmental organisations who are dealing with mental health issues on the ground. They do not know how to cope. I met a therapist who told me about meeting a completely and utterly traumatised woman who was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and feeling that she was telling the therapist's story. Every single person is living with the same horrendous trauma. Their water is polluted. They are living in slum-like conditions. At least 45% of them are unemployed. They have no hope whatsoever. They are in prison. I went through the security. I saw what they have to go through if they are allowed out. They are not allowed in or out. They are separated from their families. They have no medical care.

I met personnel from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs the morning after I had been with the protesters. They informed me that according to their projections, Gaza could be unlivable by 2020. That is what we are dealing with here. We have to stop to consider what is going on for the ordinary people and families we are talking about here. The projections I have mentioned have been made by a UN office, rather than by some non-governmental organisation or other organisation working for Palestinian rights. It is the job of the UN to monitor the situation and to make sure people know what is happening. People who are working at the coalface on the ground are telling us that this cannot go on any longer. Gaza faces collapse in just over a year. I heard the same story from everyone I met. They said "please help us" and asked why the international community is dong nothing. They pleaded with me. The reality here is that we are running out of time. We cannot forget this in the weeks and months to come. How many more people are going to die in the weeks and months to come?

Last week, Deputies and Senators came into the Oireachtas to express their shock about the tragic loss of life in Gaza. I was glad to hear colleagues across the Dáil and the Seanad condemning in the strongest terms the disproportionate and senseless violence that had occurred. I was happy that Ireland was one of the first countries to call for an independent investigation. I was really grateful for that. I urge the Government to keep pushing for that in every possible way. The truth is that we are right to be outraged. The Israeli defence forces have said that the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters is proportionate. This is an insult to language and to human life and dignity. We are right to state firmly that this is a flagrant breach of international law and that wilful killing in the context of occupation may amount to a war crime, as the UN said in the aftermath of last week's events. We are right to put it on the record of this Parliament that we reject the shameful treatment of living and breathing human beings and families that we are talking about here. I promised everyone I met in Palestine that I would do this, at the very least. The loss of life last week has made it even more important for me to do so. I feel I have to do something.

The Minister of State needs to go to Palestine. I know the Tánaiste has been there. He is very compassionate on this issue. I have spoken to him about it at length. I was in the settlements as well. I have tabled a Bill that would end Irish complicity in settlements that have been condemned as illegal for a long time. I will speak briefly on this point. I know the Tánaiste has committed to a more focused debate and vote on this specific legislation in June. I am grateful that he is going to bring this back in next month. I urge the Government sincerely to reconsider in the coming weeks its stance on banning settlement goods. My firm belief is that nothing will change in Palestine unless the EU and the wider international community are willing to put real and meaningful pressure on the Israeli Government. Last week's events were another tragic reminder of this sad fact. An Israeli Minister responded this morning to the most recent EU criticism of the massacre in Gaza by saying that the EU can "go to a thousand, thousand hells".This is what we must deal with and this is the attitude we have faced for decades. Unless we do something it will continue. If the EU is at a point of gridlock and if the consensus is not there, then we must ask ourselves if we accept it, or are we willing to take small meaningful steps ourselves - grounded firmly in international law - to show some leadership on this issue. Is there a point at which the situation can get so bad and the violations of human rights so widespread that we will look to take action ourselves?

Ireland can lead on this. I urge colleagues across the House, both in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to consider deeply the real and tangible steps Ireland can take. It is no longer enough to simply express our sadness; we need to take action.