He said it was a war crime.

Sentiment score: -0.81

No, no.

Sentiment score: -0.53

That is exactly what the Israeli Government accuses us of.

Sentiment score: -0.34

I thank everyone for their contributions. I will be clear from the outset, the attacks by Israel, which have all been detailed in this debate, are a further erosion of the principles of international humanitarian law that Israel is bound to comply with. People have been clear, as I am, in our condemnation of Hamas for its terror attack, for keeping people in captivity today and for the death and destruction it has brought to Palestinians and Israelis alike. Those hostages who Hamas is holding need to be released. We cannot be clearer about that. Israel's plans to expand its military operation in Gaza and establish its prolonged presence is deeply alarming and will further compound an already dire situation. The humanitarian situation is horrific and the continuing blockade of humanitarian and commercial supplies for Gaza is rapidly deepening the hunger crisis in Gaza that has been outlined across this House. The UN World Food Programme has said that food stocks in Gaza are now depleted. UNICEF has warned that children are experiencing severe malnutrition. Israel must lift the blockade immediately. The obstruction of lifesaving aid by Israel is a violation of its international obligations. The Taoiseach said very clearly that it was a war crime. Israel must fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law. The Israeli security cabinet decided on 4 May that it would take control of the distribution of humanitarian aid as a condition of lifting the blockade. The UN has described this as unacceptable. The UN's humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, said it was a "cynical sideshow". Ireland has been clear from the outset. We get criticised a lot by the Opposition but we get equally trenchant criticism from the Israeli Government. When we meet people who have similar views to us on the situation there in terms of supporting a two-state solution and having huge empathy for the people of Palestine, I certainly get thanks from other ministers from other governments for the actions and the leadership of this particular Government. The EU must of course speak clearly on this worrying development. The Taoiseach and others today, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl in particular, have said the EU works on the basis of unanimity. It has not been possible to get unanimity on some of the actions we would like to take in this situation and the reasons have been well set out. I welcome that the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, issued a joint statement with Commissioners Šuica and Lahbib on 7 May stating that the new mechanism that Israeli was engaging in was counter to humanitarian principles as underlined by UN agencies and humanitarian partners. We call upon the Israeli Government to immediately reverse its current policy, lift the blockade and let the humanitarian aid in to everybody. We are also absolutely clear - we cannot be clearer - that there cannot be any forced displacement of civilian populations anywhere, let alone in Gaza, and that Israel cannot occupy the Gaza Strip. This was made clear by Ireland and other EU member states recently at the EU-Israel Association Council in February. I am glad that this particular agreement is being reviewed. People can criticise it. Ireland was the first country along with Spain to look for this review and we have worked really hard as everybody in the Opposition has asked us to on a multilateral basis using our reputation and our neutral status. We have done all that and that has led to this today. However, it takes time with other member states of the European Union. We have been consistent in our leadership at EU and international levels in response to this conflict and our diplomats work really hard under the policy direction of Government. It is absolutely disgraceful today that two Irish diplomats were part of a planned diplomatic visit by a group of diplomats to Jenin with the Palestinian Authority when the Israel Defense Forces shot at them. Thankfully, no one was harmed. However, it is totally unacceptable to shoot at anybody but putting diplomatic representatives at risk, ordinary civil servants who are just going about their job on behalf of their country, we condemn in the strongest possible terms. It is absolutely outrageous.

Sentiment score: -0.08

Yes, I think the word came through during this debate. I only heard about it when I came into the Chamber. As I say, we have taken leadership on the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The Taoiseach was very strong again in calling for that agreement to be suspended while the review takes place. The EU must use all the levers at its disposal with the urgency that the situation demands. We in Ireland will use all the tools at our disposal to respond to this dreadful conflict and work towards achieving the aims. We have provided over €87 million in support of the people of Palestine since January 2023. Of this, more than €75 million has been provided by Irish taxpayers through the Government in humanitarian assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza since October 2023. This includes €58 million for UNRWA since 2023. Again, we have supported UNRWA. We have been steadfast in our support at an EU level and not everybody has been in the same position. We have provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies, including the World Food Programme and the Red Cross and the Red Crescent societies. Through our rapid response initiative, 116 tonnes of relief supplies, including family tents, tarpaulins, blankets, water cans and hygiene kits have been provided. There are currently two consignments of humanitarian aid in Jordan awaiting entry to Gaza. Both consignments have received permission to enter Gaza but they cannot do so because of the blockade. UNIFIL was mentioned. It is very important that we remember our colleagues in UNIFIL because we welcome it continuing to play an important role next-door in Lebanon. We have seen incidents of aggression by the Israeli army against UNIFIL forces in its area of operation and that is unacceptable. Our solidarity is with all of our soldiers and all of the other soldiers working under the UN flag. Any deliberate targeting of UNIFIL personnel or installations is a violation again of international humanitarian law. We have been active at the ICJ. We have filed detailed written submissions with the ICJ in advisory proceedings concerning the obligations of Israel in relation to the UN and other international organisations in the occupied Palestinian territory. Those proceedings arose from a UN General Assembly resolution. People were asking us to bring resolutions to the General Assembly and this is one that Ireland co-sponsored last December following the adoption in October 2024 of legislation by the Israeli Parliament which in effect prohibits the presence and activities of UNRWA. It is a considered set of legal arguments which cogently reflects our national position. I strongly reject suggestions some have made that by only doing written statements, which is the normal procedure, that we are somehow deficient in our support. We are leading the way at EU and UN levels, exactly what the Opposition is accusing us of not doing. We are being criticised by the Israeli Government for all of this. I stand over everything we have done and will continue to do in the court. The long-term impact of the physical and mental scars being inflicted on children in Gaza is totally unconscionable and others have mentioned this. It is difficult to imagine the untold suffering they have experienced. Government approval was secured in September last for Ireland to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal from the WHO to address the current health needs of people from Gaza. To date, 12 children and their family members have come to Ireland under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. I am sure everybody is proud that Ireland was able to offer these children the care they desperately need. Both medical evacuations required the efforts of numerous Government Departments, led by the Department of Health, and our embassy team in Cairo. It was a whole-of-government approach and thanks go to everyone involved. This is consistent with our support for the people of Palestine. I have to reject this thing that keeps coming up that somehow Ireland is complicit in this, or the Irish Government is complicit in this. It is completely and utterly unconscionable that that would be said in this House. We have led the way on this. We are doing absolutely everything we can. It requires decisions at the Security Council, over which some countries have the power of veto, at the UN and at the European Council of Ministers, where everybody has power of veto over foreign policy. We are absolutely steadfast in our support for the Palestinian people and for a peaceful two-state solution and in our opposition to anti-Semitism in this country and around the world, and are working hard on that. On this idea of being complicit, the Opposition should just stop using these words. It can criticise the Government, hold it to account and ask it to do more - that is what oppositions do. However, to say that somehow we are complicit is just disgraceful language from the Opposition. We will continue to speak as loudly as we have been and we will continue to be that voice that has been recognised all over the world.

Sentiment score: 0.07