Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

- unreservedly condemns the brutal attack by Hamas in Israel on Saturday, 7th October 2023, indiscriminately and systematically targeting civilians, and resulting in over 1,400 deaths;

- emphasises that the deliberate taking of hostages, including children and the elderly, is unconscionable and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

- recognises Israel’s right to defend itself from attack, in line with international law;

- stresses the universal applicability of international law and international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on the targeting of civilians, the principle of proportionality, the prohibition on collective punishment, the prohibition on the use of ‘human shields’ and the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks, to all in armed conflict;

- emphasises the obligation on parties to take all feasible precautions to protect the civilian population and civilian objects under its control against the effects of attacks; and calls on all actors to abide by their obligations in this regard;

- recalls that abiding by international humanitarian law is not optional and that it is an obligation that is binding on all parties, in all conflicts; state actors and non-state actors alike;

- calls on all actors to abide by their obligations in this regard, and condemns all violations of international humanitarian law;

- expresses its alarm and deep concern at the rising death toll of civilians and acute humanitarian needs in Gaza; underlines that, under international law, Israel has responsibilities in respect of the basic needs of the population of Gaza, including food, water, medical and energy supplies, and calls for these supplies to be urgently restored;

- calls for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of all civilians in Gaza, through humanitarian corridors or any other means necessary; - in this context, calls for a humanitarian pause, to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza who are suffering the appalling consequences of violence;

- extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of all of the victims who have been killed, injured and taken hostage;

- in line with the call by the United Nations (UN), strongly urges Israel to rescind the order for civilians in Gaza to move south of the Wadi Gaza line, and reiterates in the strongest terms that this is causing a humanitarian catastrophe;

- expresses its deep concern at the increase in violence in the West Bank, including further forced displacement of Palestinian communities;

- emphasises the grave risks of a continued escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as in the wider region, and calls for immediate de-escalation, through regional and international diplomacy;

- in line with UN Security Council Resolutions, notes that lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement, and terror, and the two-state solution; re-affirms the Government’s firm support for these principles; and calls on all members of Seanad Éireann to unambiguously commit to these principles;

- emphasises the vital need for continued and uninterrupted development and humanitarian aid to be provided to the Palestinian people, including through established channels with the Palestinian Authority;

- notes the statement of Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, rejecting the killing and abuse of civilians, and reiterating the commitment to a peaceful path towards Palestinian self-determination;

- expresses its deep concern at the rise in the circulation of disinformation and hate speech, in particular on social media, and reminds relevant companies of their legal obligations in this regard;

- emphasises the urgency of intensifying diplomatic efforts, bilaterally, through the European Union and the UN, to contribute to de-escalation; and recalls the moral and political obligation of all members of the international community to develop a pathway back towards a political horizon;

- affirms that building a just and sustainable peace, in any conflict, requires addressing poverty, inequality, injustice and all the root causes of violence, and meaningful accountability for breaches of international law, in the context of the Middle East Peace Process and in all contexts; and

- recalling the successive Resolutions of the UN, expresses its conviction and commitment to achieving a two-state solution that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict.

I will be sharing time with Senator Malcolm Byrne. We welcome this debate and will have a further debate tomorrow. Fianna Fáil reaffirms its support for a two-state solution and is deeply alarmed by what is happening in Gaza.

I will draw attention to a couple of elements of the motion. It is quite lengthy and I will not read through all of it. The first line condemns the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on Saturday, 7 October 2023. It is important to acknowledge that date and remember what happened. There has been a tendency by some to brush over it. Some public representatives across both Houses could not bring themselves to condemn that attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians, including babies, women, children, old people and Holocaust survivors. Some public representatives could not even articulate that what happened on that date was abhorrent, brutal and beyond inhumane. It is important not to brush over that and move on. It is an escalating situation and every day and hour things are changing, but that date will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of Jews worldwide and the Israeli people because it was a horrific attack by a terrorist, extremist, jihadist organisation that, in my view, does not represent the Palestinian people.

I utterly condemn the bombing of the hospital in Gaza that occurred last evening. That was the reason for the late inclusion of the amendment that will be proposed by Senator Byrne to reflect the ongoing and escalating situation. The bombing of a hospital, health facility, doctors, nurses and medical personnel is in contravention on international humanitarian law and in breach of the Geneva Convention. That is accepted and the full facts of what happened, on which there are differing views, must be established. There is utter worldwide condemnation of the attack on that hospital.

I echo the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza, who are suffering the appalling consequences of violence. The priority for the international community is a humanitarian ceasefire to make sure aid gets to those who need it most and to get all sides to step back, step down, allow people to be protected and protect innocent civilians. It is important to note that bombs continue to go from Gaza into Israel and there are bombs coming from both sides. In the midst of that, innocent civilians are being slaughtered and maimed.

I emphasise the deliberate taking of hostages. We believe the figure is around 199 but we do not know how many of those taken are still alive. We saw Emily’s father say he was glad she was not alive because to be taken hostage would be much worse. The families waiting are suffering trauma and psychological warfare.

We will have more time for substantive debate tomorrow. This is a balanced motion for all sides.