71. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether she supports the calls from Colombian President Gustavo Petros for states to invoke Resolution 377, the UN’s uniting for peace mechanism in relation to Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22633/26]

Sentiment score: 0.24

Staying with the issue of Gaza, I accept the Minister's point that we all want to work together and make progress towards peace but what we have now is Trump's odious, so-called Board of Peace, which is anything but that. Would the Minister and the Irish State support the calls from the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, for states to invoke UN Resolution 377, the UN's uniting for peace mechanism in relation to Gaza? If we are to work together, the UN remains the best place to do that.

Sentiment score: 0.75

I thank the Minister. I am fully aware of the limits and obligations of the uniting for peace resolution. However, we are in a desperate situation. The ceasefire is Gaza is a ceasefire only in name. Bombardments continue. People continue to be killed daily. Aid continues to be blocked. Earlier this week, three planned UN convoys to collect supplies from the crossing had to be cancelled after the Israeli authorities informed the UN that only fuel would be let in that day. Most crossings into Gaza remain closed. Only Karem Abu Salem, Karem Shalom, is opened with some regularity. That presents a major bottleneck. Close to 20,000 patients are in dire need of medical care outside Gaza and cannot get out. Settler violence in the West Bank continues apace. We are in a desperate situation. The UN is paralysed. The Security Council is paralysed. I know the General Assembly has been in emergency session but it is not pushing hard enough to provide some kind of alternative to Trump's Board of Peace.

Sentiment score: -0.03

That is what I want. What is the Irish Government's position on the Board of Peace? Are we in favour of it? Are we backing this board or are we remaining silent and seeing what, if anything, it manages to achieve? It seems we are paralysed in terms of calling it out. The Government needs to support Resolution 377 A at the UN. We need to pass the occupied territories Bill in full. Deputy Ó Laoghaire articulated that clearly and eloquently a few moments ago. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to enable full, safe, sustainable humanitarian access and movement into Gaza and the West Bank with the complete opening of all border crossings. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to reverse the annexation and end the unlawful occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the dismantlement of settlements. The UN Security Council is paralysed. Our voice has always been powerful in the UN. We need to bring it, as loudly as we can, to the UN General Assembly. I believe that although it is in a weakened position, it is the best avenue towards some kind of resolution.

Sentiment score: 0.21