Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will all agree the history of our island is quite complex. Many people around the world would not be able to fully and accurately describe and attest to the intricacies of our own history, even over the past 30 years, going back to our independence, the Civil War or, indeed, the plantations, which had such an enormous impact on our history. Likewise, I am not going to pretend to be an expert on the situation in the Middle East and the intricacies in that part of the world. I will leave that to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is the expert on the stance of our island.

I condemn unreservedly the attack by Hamas on 7 October. I also condemn indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians by Hamas in Israel and any retaliation by Israel on innocent civilians. I unequivocally condemn the taking of hostages by Hamas and the impact that must have on their families. Senator Clifford-Lee reported the testimony of the Israeli man who preferred the news that his beloved daughter was dead rather than being held as a hostage.

I agree about the absolute necessity of a humanitarian corridor and the importance of water. I was struck when I went out half an hour ago during the debate to get a cup of water by the importance of water in everybody's lives and how restrictions on that in parts of the world, especially now in Gaza, are a travesty.

I also commend the balanced comments by the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and Ministers on this difficult situation. I condemn the loss of innocent life throughout recent days and over the history of conflict in that part of the world.

I will read a small letter handwritten by a lady I know and whom I would describe as a lady of peace. She did not ask me to read it out but I am going to do so anyway. She writes that she hopes I am well. The letter asks me to do all I can to encourage all our political leaders to help defend and aid the unfortunate people of Gaza. It goes on to state that the awful atrocities by Hamas are not the fault of the poor, oppressed, long-suffering people of Gaza. Palestine as a whole is not to blame for Israeli grabbing and settling of the West Bank illegally and in spite of international law, not to mention countless appalling incursions, bombings, indiscriminate impoverishment, denial of human rights, indiscriminate sniping and killing and bombardment by the evil Israel Defense Forces. She states that, unfortunately, this attack by evil Hamas has bolstered the power of Netanyahu, which is increasingly being denounced by decent people in Israel. She signs off the letter with best wishes.

Those are the words of one person about a complex part of the world. I have never been in Palestine or Israel and I am not going to pretend to know what it is like to live there, what it has been like in recent days and weeks and in all the other periods of conflict in recent years, including 2014. I grew up on this island and do not even pretend to know what it was like to have lived in the Six Counties of Northern Ireland. I lived in Galway. I have a friend in Monaghan who reminds me that I am not as aware of things as he is, living in Border country. He is more attuned to the intricacies on this island.

I encourage a de-escalation of the situation in Palestine and Israel. I encourage restraint. I do not know exactly what it is like on both sides, what those people are going through and the danger of what they will go through in the coming weeks and months. I hope for peace and the protection of innocent life.