Lynn Ruane (Independent)

I thank the Leader and the Minister of State for facilitating the discussion and adding this to the schedule today. It is extremely important that we can communicate clearly and be transparent, especially for all of the families who want to know what is going to happen, how their family members are going to be protected and what actions our Government will take to ensure the safe return of their loved ones. In the Chamber today, we are joined by some of those family members. We have Tracey Douglas, whose father is part of the mission. We have Pat Dolan and Miriam McNally, whose daughter, Naoise Dolan, is en route on the next flotilla. That is very concerning when we see what was met just ahead. They have to deal with the anticipation and waiting, knowing there is another flotilla on the way that their loved one is on.

We must ensure we do not take our eyes off what is coming. Obviously, there is so much commotion due to what is happening now. We need to make sure we take the long-term view that these waves of flotillas are going to keep coming because these people are not going to stop.We therefore need to have a long-term action plan about how we will support those flotillas to break the siege and sail alongside them with humanitarian aid boats. We do not need to use humanitarian aid trucks. It is a legal route by sea. It is supported by the ICJ. Imelda Graham, whose daughter Caitríona is part of the mission, and Jenna Almai, whose mother is also part of the mission, are with us today. So far, nine people have been confirmed abducted or kidnapped. They are the correct terms to use. It is essentially piracy. Someone has entered international waters, broken the law and taken people who are not committing a crime to a land they did not intend to go to. That is clear to most people and it is good for us to keep saying that over and over again to ensure no one tries to change that language or diminish or dismiss what is happening and how it is happening.

Sometimes, I see commentary online relating to the last flotillas or this one, where people ask what the participants expected. When I think about that, I bring it back a step and ask what the Palestinian people have expected for the past 100 years. What did they expect when they brought their children into the world? What they expected was to work their land, travel, see their children grow and watch their children play. They never expected to hold the lifeless or limbless bodies of their children in their arms. They never expected to have to look to other countries and beg them to act.

It is fair to answer, when people say there is no monopoly on who cares the most, that there is a monopoly on the ability to make decisions. When we ask our Government and the European Union or any government that has any kind of global capacity to act, we are not saying that people do not care. Rather, we are asking what more we can do. How can we create sanctions on Israel? How can we end trade? How can we bring the genocide to an end? We are asking what more we can do, not saying others do not care. If we can put that to the side, people will be able to think about what other steps we need to take.

We ask what we expect, as citizens, politicians or anyone. What we expect is for the flotilla not to exist in the first place, that people would not have to get on boats and leave their families. That is what people expect. In the face of the fact that flotillas have had to happen, what we expect is to ensure we can take actions to hold Israel to account. The fact is that Palestine does not have the military force to be able to withstand or fight a war. That does not exist. What do exist are economic sanctions. As the military power is not there, we need to create a scenario where Israel feels a loss from what it is doing. That will be economic and every government has the power to create that economic sanction.

What do we expect? We expect to be able to break the siege. We want our loved ones and friends to come home safely, but we also expect, beyond the embassies and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade making sure the representation is happening, to end the genocide. That is why the flotilla exists in the first place. While we look for humanitarian corridors and the safe return of Irish citizens, including our colleagues, we also expect that to be matched with sanctions, with more than words.

Israel is beyond shaming. The world is shaming Israel and it does not curb its actions in any sense of the word. If anything, its language and how it goes about its business has just become more and more morally corrupt. It loses its humanity day by day. When people are that far removed from their humanity, words will not penetrate anything. It is beyond that.

What we want to see today, beyond the protection of our citizens who are currently or will be detained, is concrete action. What we expect is that our Government and the European Union will use every possible lever they have to bring about an end to this genocide. That is what we expect and it is what we would like to hear. We do not want to be here in six months wondering how we will get more colleagues, citizens or activists home. We expect an end to what is happening in Gaza. Despite what any of us think, we have the power to do that. Instead of people getting defensive and thinking they care as much as anyone, we need to think about what else we should and can do, what sanctions we need to bring and how we can liberate Palestine so that Palestinians can fulfil the things they expected in their lifetimes, which are the same things we expect in our lifetimes, that is, to put our heads on a pillow at night and not hear bombs raining down around us. That is what is expected.

I hope that, in his response, the Minister of State will outline what actions will be taken beyond diplomatic relations to ensure there is an end to the genocide in Gaza.