Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also ask for a debate on the horrific murders in the West Bank yesterday. Among those killed by Israeli forces were a 72-year-old man, a 16-year-old boy and a 66-year-old man who died of tear gas inhalation. I will quote from the Al Jazeera report that detailed this yesterday, where Nida' Ibrahim stated:

We are hearing stories that Israeli forces were shooting at the neighbours, people in their houses, people going about their daily lives. [Crucially, he adds that:] Palestinians say Israel is acting this way because it is not being held accountable and has a free hand killing Palestinians.

That cuts to the heart of the matter. We need a debate on this because we rightly stand united today on the horrific and illegal war in Ukraine. I do not understand why we cannot stand united on the horrific occupation and ongoing murders of Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza. I am also struck by that strange comment made in the Dáil last year by the Tánaiste. When confronted with the reality of the apartheid state that Israel is, he said: "I do not find the term "apartheid" helpful." What a strange thing to say. It is just not acceptable politically. I have been to Nablus and the West Bank. Everyone who knows about occupied Palestine knows that it is an apartheid state. We need to recognise that and act together just as we are acting together on Ukraine.