I want to express my sympathy and condolences to the family of Kim Damti and the families of all those who have tragically lost their lives over the past week. Speaking about Russia on 19 October last year, President von der Leyen stated: "... attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially electricity, are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with winter coming - these are acts of pure terror. And we have to call it as such." Now, when Israel is doing precisely that, all she has to say is about the right of Israel to defend itself, giving a green light to the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza that is currently taking place. Will the Tánaiste do what President von der Leyen refuses to do? Will he call it out? Will he describe Israel's siege of Gaza as a war crime? Will he describe the raining down of bombs on residential buildings and hospitals as acts of pure terror?

I will not allow the Deputy put words in my mouth. He knows that I have consistently called out indiscriminate bombing of conurbations, particularly in Gaza, as far back as 2009.

Will the Tánaiste call them war crimes?

When I visited Gaza, I could see for myself that if you bomb a residential block, children and women will be killed. I do not need, with respect, any lectures or tutorials from the Deputy as to how I express and articulate myself in respect of the Middle East. I ask him to unreservedly condemn Hamas.

I do not need lectures from the Tánaiste. He will not condemn a war crime.

Would he describe what happened------

The Tánaiste will not condemn a war crime.

Please.

-----last Saturday as a war crime?

I do not need lectures from the Tánaiste.

I am just asking him if the Deputy would do that or has he done it?

The Tánaiste is an absolute hypocrite.