Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the first three months of the year 11 Palestinian children were murdered by occupying Israeli forces. The fatalities included two children who were shot dead during the great march of return protests on 30 March. A volunteer medic was killed in Bethlehem last week. I quote the head of Defence for Children International as follows: "Israeli forces are killing Palestinian children with live ammunition at alarming rates yet the international community stands by as Palestinian children are killed with impunity." During protests near the perimeter fence of the occupied Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers shot Bilal al-Najjar. Hit in the abdomen, Bilal died in hospital on the same day 17 year old Adham Nidal Sakr Amara was shot in the head with live ammunition. It is likely that Adham was struck by an exploding bullet, according to medical sources who stated the object that had struck him appeared to have detonated on the lower half of his face. In all sincerity, how many children does Israel have to murder with impunity before the Government takes meaningful action? Is there no limit to the number of children it can gun down before we do something meaningful? We were happy to expel ambassadorial staff from Russia last year on just the word of Britain. There are 11 more children dead, but it makes no difference. Words are not enough at this stage, as everyone here knows. I have not heard a single Member disagree on the horrors being inflicted on the Palestinian people. It does not seem to matter what Israel does or to what lengths it will go. The Government will do nothing in concrete terms. We need the Israeli ambassador to be expelled and to send a message to the world that we are no longer prepared to pretend this is not happening.