Michael McDowell (Independent)

I identify with the calls that have been made for a proper debate on what is happening in Gaza. It is not unforeseeable. A number of us actually foresaw, almost to the detail, what is happening now in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas-inspired atrocity against Israeli citizens. It was shocking that, when we supported the occupied territories Bill, the Irish ambassador was called in in Jerusalem and reprimanded by the Israeli Government. Those of us in this House who supported that Bill were accused of being antisemites. Nothing could be further from the truth and nothing could be more defamatory of us. For all of us who believe in any form of justice, just as we called then for the immediate release of all the hostages - and I reiterate that now - the same applies 1000% to the following notion. Israel is a recognised member of the United Nations, a country that styles itself as a democracy, yet it has Smotrich as its Minister for Finance effectively calling for the extermination of the Palestinians and their eviction. If it is a democracy, though, then the people of Israel share collectively the responsibility for what their Government is doing in their name. There is no escaping that and we have to say it.

The other thing we have to say is to their allies in Washington - they have allies in Washington - and it is that enough is enough. We see Canada, Britain and France now saying that things have gone too far. They have watched for two years while this process started. They have been equivocating in their position throughout. Now at the eleventh hour, they find it in themselves to call a halt. Where were the red lines that were crossed before? They are all forgotten. Our Government is right to stand against atrocity being the answer to atrocity, and it is right to call Israel to account for unleashing the most extraordinary atrocity that has been unleashed on any people before our eyes.

Let us remember this: Hamas's existence was encouraged by right-wing Israelis. Hamas was encouraged so that the two-state solution would be undermined so that the PLO would be undermined. When you sow the wind, sometimes you reap the whirlwind but on this occasion it has to be said that if we were antisemites in 2017, those people who are doing what they are doing now are doing far more for the cause of international antisemitism than anything we ever did.