Is lá thar a bheith tábhachtach do mhuintir na Palaistíne é seo. Beidh deireadh leis an sos cogaidh inniu muna ngéilleann Iosrael don bhrú leanúint ar aghaidh leis. Chomh maith leis sin, is lá faoi leith é seo, Lá Idirnáisiúnta um Dhlúthpháirtíocht le Muintir na Palaistíne, atá ag tarlú gach bliain ó 1977. Chomh maith leis sin, ar an lá seo in 1947, ghlac Comhthionól Ginearálta na Náisiún Aontaithe le rún a chur tús leis an gcríochdheighilt agus leis an réiteach dhá-thír.

Today is a very special and important day for the people of Palestine on three levels. Today will see the end of the ceasefire, unless Israel sees sense. On this date, every year since 1977, following the General Assembly decision, we have a solidarity day with the people of Palestine. That in itself tells you something. On this day 76 years ago in 1947, the General Assembly adopted the resolution of the partition of Palestine, a decision that saw a two-state solution put forward as the only solution.

The actions and the war of Israel have put an end to a two-state solution. Not only are they saying that history started on 7 October, when Hamas, which I have condemned without hesitation, attacked Israel, they have persisted with a narrative of self-defence. The Secretary General of the UN called the killing of civilians unparalleled and unprecedented. Some 14,800 Palestinians have been reported killed, and that is an underestimate. A substantial number of them are children. Some 1.7 million have been displaced. Along with that, the story that has not been reported at all involves the West Bank. The West Bank and East Jerusalem together are 10% smaller than the size of County Galway. In that area, there are 3 million people and 700,000 Israeli settlers are in there now in 279 settlements, making a two-state solution impossible or nigh-on impossible. Since 7 October, 240 people have been killed, mostly by settlers in the West Bank. This is parallel with the slaughter that is taking place in Gaza.

We have to use our voice and not speak out of two sides of our mouth, or six sides of our mouth, as has been happening. I have praised the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach for their initiative, but that has not continued. We need a ceasefire, full stop. We need to call out Israel for what it is doing, which is the Israeli Government and the Prime Minister, who has been in office for almost 16 years out of 27 years, leading the slaughter and the dehumanising language that is going along with that.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I join her in condemning the actions of Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation that brutally murdered innocent civilians. I, too, call for a ceasefire. What we are seeing unfold in response to this brutal attack is devastating. I believe that Israel has gone too far. I have said time and again, and I think I join with all colleagues here, that they must respond within international and humanitarian law-----

They are not doing that.

-----and what we are seeing does not seem to be in line with that. We have provided additional funding to the international court. We will provide €1.3 million annually and €3 million in additional funding for this year to make sure those who are potentially responsible for any crimes are held accountable. The most important thing now, however, is that the ceasefire we have called for happens, that the pause, which we were all very happy to see, continues, and that the release of hostages continues. We are all overjoyed that Emily Hand, an Irish citizen, was released and that many other citizens were released, but it is so important that not only are those citizens released, but that there is continued aid, resources, food and fuel sent to the millions of people in Gaza who need our support and who need help. We have been united and clear in that message all along. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the vast majority of people in this House have been clear in our support for those citizens. We have been clear in our support and our calling for a ceasefire and that will not change.

The Taoiseach has engaged extensively with his colleagues. The Tánaiste has engaged extensively with his colleagues, not just for the release of hostages and to ensure that humanitarian aid is provided on the ground but to make sure we have a ceasefire so we can all collectively work towards a solution. As a country and a Government, we have always said that solution is a two-state solution. That has not changed. I know for many it seems like an impossibility at this time, but the time will come when this discussion can be had and where it should be had. It is so important we are part of that. Our voice will remain strong on the world stage and the European stage. I have no doubt our Taoiseach, our Tánaiste and all of us, as we engage with our colleagues at a European level and beyond, will continue to call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the immediate aid that is needed by millions of people, and for this fighting to come to an end.

I have done my best in three minutes to give the Minister a background, but still she stands up and condemns Hamas without condemning-----

Yes.

-----what the Israeli army or the Government are doing.

She just did.

She did not.

That is talking out of six sides-----

You did not listen.

I did listen. You have not condemned the actions of Israel or its army.

Read the transcript.

Let me quote to her in the time I have. Thirty-six UN experts, on 16 November, raised the alarm about the risk of genocide. Professor William Schabas, who is a professor of international law, also raised what was happening in terms of genocide. Going back, Amnesty International told the Government that Israel is operating an apartheid system, and nobody has come back in relation to the report. Human Rights Watch has repeatedly told the Government what is happening there. I am outlining to the Minister what is happening in the West Bank that it is completely going under the radar. Israel is waiting-----

No.

The shaking of the heads tells its own story when the Government cannot listen to facts.

You are misrepresenting our position.

I am sticking to facts. Israel cannot wait to go back on the pretence of getting rid of Hamas. What it is really doing is destroying Palestine and the Palestinian people while you nod and shake your heads in relation to it.

Do not misrepresent us.

It is time to stand together and make words mean something. Stop the slaughter and have a ceasefire that allows for a comprehensive peace plan. That is the very least this neutral country should be doing.

I think that is what I have just done. I think that is what I said a number of times in my short contribution-----

Yes.

Hear, hear.

-----that we as a country were one of the first countries to call for a ceasefire. We have consistently called for a ceasefire. We have consistently repeated that what Israel is doing is going too far.

Going too far? It is international law on genocide.

We have consistently said that they have a right to defend themselves. It is not for us in this Chamber to decide that.

It is for us to listen to people who are telling us.

It is a matter for the court.

We have provided funding to the experts who will decide this. The most important thing here is that hostages are released, the hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians receive the aid they need and this fighting stops. That is what we all want in this Chamber. The only way that will happen is if we continue to call for a ceasefire and use our voice. As small as we might be, our voice around the table has always been strong on these issues. Our continuing to use our voice in the way we have is the only way in which this fighting will stop. We will be sure to be around the table when it does to make sure a solution that focuses on peace is the way forward.

Israel is not interested in peace.