It has been reported that the main hospital in Gaza is burying patients in a mass grave. A doctor in the hospital said that bodies are littered around the hospital complex and there is no longer any electricity for the morgues. He stated that 7 babies and 29 patients who were in intensive care are among the dead. This is an indictment of the war Israel is waging. It is also an indictment of the international community.

The Tánaiste stated that one of the reasons we should not expel the Israeli ambassador is that Ireland could have a position as an interlocutor in the peace process. However, when I asked the Taoiseach last week whether the Government has made any material effort to approach Israel or Palestine about becoming an interlocutor, mediator or facilitator for peace, he admitted that it has not. No effort has been made by this State to put ourselves in that position, despite the fact that we have a competency in peacebuilding. Will the Tánaiste make a material effort on his trip to the Middle East this week to put Ireland in a situation where it can be a mediator for peace?

The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach are correct. What is needed is an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We have called for that from day one. Other countries are now beginning to adopt that position, thankfully.

We need to see all hostages released, including little Emily Hand, whom we are all thinking of and who turns nine on Friday. Emily was taken hostage by Hamas. We need all Irish citizens and all international citizens out of Gaza.

The Government is taking practical steps, including that which it took earlier today to make an additional allocation to the International Criminal Court in respect of its investigation into the ongoing situation in Palestine. It might seem hard to believe now, but there will at a moment in time have to be discussions about peace. When we get to that stage, Ireland will be able to play a role-----

No effort.

-----but right now the concern is an immediate ceasefire, getting the hostages released, including Emily, and getting people out.

There is no plan by the Government.

We need to get a ceasefire first. That is quite practical.