Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)

I will raise the kidnap and release yesterday of our fellow Seanadóir, my party colleague Chris Andrews. I am thankful he has been released. On 1 October, the boat Chris was travelling on, the Spectre, was illegally boarded by Israeli forces. Over the next two days, all boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla were intercepted. In total, 462 people, 16 of them Irish citizens, were illegally detained by armed Israeli forces in international waters while attempting to bring aid to Gaza. The flotilla was a peaceful humanitarian mission carrying food and humanitarian aid. Italy, Spain and Greece sent naval support to the flotilla. There was an observer boat on the flotilla. The Government could and should have sent representatives to help safeguard Irish citizens. Those illegally detained by Israel were kept in hostile and cruel conditions. I acknowledge the support of Irish Embassy staff during that period.

However, the activists on the flotilla correctly want the focus to remain on the plight of the Palestinian people. The vast majority of people support Palestine and want to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and full access to humanitarian aid. They want to see an end to the Israeli campaign to expel Palestinians from their land in the West Bank. Over ten years ago, the Dáil unanimously passed a Sinn Féin motion to recognise the State of Palestine, yet formal recognition was only announced in May of last year. If the Government is serious about supporting Palestinians and holding Israel to account, it could and should now fast-track the occupied territories Bill in full. It could ensure that this State never again invests in Israeli war bonds. I ask the Leader to reflect those views to the Government in the time ahead.