Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)

I, too, welcome the Fianna Fáil motion, and I also welcome the fact that the Government is supporting it. I will speak about the motion but also the amendments.

The UN independent commission report states Israel has shown clear intent to establish permanent control over Gaza while ensuring a Jewish majority in the West Bank. I, too, was in the West Bank, 20 years ago, and at that stage I could see land confiscation, population displacement, discrimination and apartheid. These have accelerated since 7 October. We have recognised the State of Palestine. It is so welcome that Ireland was one of the first countries to do so. This has been followed by France, Britain, Canada and Australia. Now that we have recognised the State of Palestine, it is now our responsibility to focus our attention not only on Gaza but also on the West Bank.

A day ago, the Al-Karama Crossing, or Allenby Crossing, in the West Bank was the only link to the rest of the world. It borders Jordan to the east and is the lung of the West Bank, enabling the movement of people and vital goods. Israel’s Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, has closed the crossing indefinitely. Three million Palestinian people rely on the crossing. While the genocide continues in Gaza, Israel is now laying siege to the West Bank and turning it into a large sealed prison. I urge that we keep this to the forefront. The Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Palestine’s embassies around the world are demanding the mobilisation of international pressure. We want to make our amendments to the motion to keep the focus on Gaza, but not it alone because we know Israel’s ultimate game is to take control of the whole of Palestine, the state it does not even recognise. We need to keep the West Bank very much to the fore as well.