I want to return to the question of Gaza. A calendar month ago, horror was visited on Israeli civilians and we remain in condemnation of that action by Hamas. Since then, as has been said, Gaza has become a graveyard for children, with a child killed every ten minutes. It is very clear that Israel is not acting within international law in pursuing its self-defence. The Taoiseach has acknowledged that and I commend him for doing so. I also commend him for calling out collective punishment. I think that was important. However, I want to query the Taoiseach on his definition of ceasefire. He referred to a humanitarian ceasefire, a pause so that foreign passport holders can come out, hostages might be released, which we all support, and aid can go in. I put it to him that we need more than that. We need a full, complete cessation. That is what is required. We need to stop Gaza being that graveyard for children.

I want the violence to stop, the killing to end, the hostages to be released, foreign citizens to be allowed to leave and aid to be able to get back into Gaza. I do not want to get hung up on the terminology that is used but perhaps I can explain to the House why some countries do not like the term "ceasefire". It is because they believe that talking about a permanent ceasefire implies that Israel cannot go after Hamas at all. I do not accept that definition but that is the reason some countries prefer the terms “pause” or “humanitarian ceasefire” to the term "full ceasefire" because they believe a full ceasefire implies Israel being unable to pursue Hamas.

That is just an excuse not to call for one.

I return to the issue of Gaza. Today marks one month since the brutal massacre of civilians in Israel by Hamas. It is a devastating anniversary. Since then, we have seen the brutal bombardment by Israel of the people of Gaza, bringing about 10,000 deaths, including 4,000 children and unprecedented numbers of journalists and aid workers killed so brutally. Our thoughts go to all those bereaved and the family of eight-year-old Emily Hand, presumed abducted by Hamas, the family of Zac Hania and all the Irish citizens trapped in Gaza with no way out. We have worked with the Taoiseach and other parties to secure strong support in the Dáil for a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid. In the spirit of that collaboration, I ask that we continue to work with him and that the Government provide Opposition leaders with briefings on the ongoing situation, particularly on the plight of the Irish citizens who have been so severely impacted there but also the attempts at European level to draw support for the crucial call for an immediate ceasefire so that the killings of children will stop.

I will speak to the Tánaiste and his team about that. I am sure it is possible and can be arranged. I will say, however, that anything related to individual cases is extremely sensitive and we all understand why that is. When it comes to broader matters beyond individual cases, however, I think that can be done.

I will also return to the issue of Gaza. My party leader has asked that, as a consequence of the horror being inflicted on the Palestinian people and people in Gaza following the October massacre inflicted on the people of Israel by Hamas, the Taoiseach would use his leverage at EU level to look at Horizon Europe funding and human rights clauses in EU trade agreements.

We ask him to use that leverage because there must be consequences for the devastation that is being inflicted upon the people of Gaza, where a child is killed every ten minutes. Some 4,273 children have been killed.

The Taoiseach mentioned that he will call for a ceasefire at the next meeting. I will support that call. However, the next meeting of the European Council is on 14 December. Is the Taoiseach really telling me that, should the situation remain as it is for another month or six weeks and a child is killed every ten minutes, we will hold that position? We will still have words but no action. We need action and even at a unilateral level, I ask the Taoiseach not to be afraid to take action.

I thank the Deputy and hear what he is saying. The situation is as it is. It may be difficult for people in this Chamber to understand it but the position around the table at European level, the position of the 27 member states, is nowhere remotely near imposing any form of sanctions on Israel. It is nowhere remotely near that. A large number of countries - certainly a blocking minority, if not a majority - strongly support Israel. The role we are playing is different to the one the Deputy thinks is possible. The role we are playing is possible. We are trying to centre the EU position in a better place.

Again and again, the Taoiseach has proclaimed the Government's commitment to international law. In front of the world's eyes, Israel is committing actions that fit the definitions of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide as defined in the Rome Statute. Is the Taoiseach going to do anything about that? The Government could take a case. I met the Spanish social protection minister during the week, along with other MPs and MEPs. They are referring a case under Article 14 to prosecute Benjamin Netanyahu, his ministers and the military officials responsible for the massacres, genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed in Gaza. Will the Taoiseach do the same?

I note the Taoiseach is still giving cover to Israel by talking about its right to defend itself. May I ask a question? Prior to 7 October, more than 6,000 Palestinians had been killed by the Israeli military. Do the Palestinians have the right to pursue the killers of those Palestinians in the same way as the Taoiseach seems to think Israel has the right to pursue the protagonists of 7 October?

I thank the Deputy. We all understand that, very often, truth is the first victim in war. In the fog of war, it is very difficult to know exactly what is happening. In this House only two weeks ago, people were with absolute confidence condemning Israel and the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, for bombing a hospital. It now appears increasingly plausible, if not probable, that it was an accidental attack carried out by Islamic Jihad. The facts are still-----

We do not know that at all.

We do not know what the Deputy claimed or believed to be the case. The point is that the facts remain unclear. As the Tánaiste said at the weekend, it may well be the case that war crimes have been committed. That is where the International Criminal Court, ICC, comes in but there has to be a proper investigation.

Will the Taoiseach take a case? Will he take a case?