Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Minister of State in his condemnation of the Hamas attacks. They were so senseless, so selfish that they have sacrificed Palestinian children for the cause of Hamas. Nobody shies away from the criticism of Hamas in that regard. I watched the UN General Assembly the night before last and the vote that was presided over by Dennis Francis. I agree that it is good that the motion for a ceasefire has been passed. I am disappointed by how few European Union states saw fit to vote for it. I do not understand the rhetoric of Israel that says that somehow, Gazans would be safer if there were not a ceasefire, because they are entitled to be governed by people other than Hamas. While I agree with that aim, there is no way Gazans are safer without a ceasefire. That makes absolutely no sense at all.

I praise the Government's stance on this and I am disappointed by Israel's continuous use of rhetoric and spin on the issue, where I think their position is absolutely indefensible. However, the question has not been answered. What are we going to do about the fact that Irish taxpayers' money to the tune of €36 million this year, more than I even realised, has been destroyed and wasted by the Israel Defense Forces and their illegal actions in Gaza. What are we going to do about it?