Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the resolution by the UN General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire. It should come from both sides. Hamas continues to indiscriminately fire at civilian targets in Israel. This is a war crime. Hamas has threatened to execute the remaining 137 Israeli hostages. This is a war crime and must be condemned. However, the Israelis are now on day 47 of their ground campaign in Gaza. In that time, they have killed almost 20,000 civilians, including more than 10,000 children. That is 150 children every day. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, says it will take another two months and possibly longer to, in his word, neutralise Rafah and Khan Younis. This means we will have another 20,000 civilians killed, with 150 children killed per day. Since this morning, when I kissed my own children and left the house, 30 children in Gaza have been killed. They would fit on every seat on this side of the Chamber. Imagine their laughter and excitement at being in a room like this but no, they are being slaughtered indiscriminately. The weapons that Israel is using are reported blandly in newspapers as "shelling". Each 155 artillery shell contains 8 kg of high explosives and 40 kg of shrapnel designed to detonate, fragment and kill people. It is disgusting and it is happening on our watch. I welcome the leadership of An Taoiseach and An Tánaiste in condemning and seeking out a ceasefire.

The national security adviser of Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, has stated Israel will go to war with Hezbollah and will broaden and widen the conflict in due course. We have troops there. We have to call for a ceasefire now on both sides to prevent a regional and possibly a global escalation. If we tolerate the murder, butchery and slaughter of children like this, it is a harbinger not only of what will happen in the Middle East but what will happen more broadly. We have a great responsibility on shoulders.