I raise the ongoing brutal bombardment by Israel of Gaza and Lebanon, and I want to ask the Taoiseach about the occupied territories Bill. Over the last few days, I think we have all watched with great distress as Israel's actions have escalated still further to an even more horrific degree in Gaza and Lebanon. On Sunday morning, UNIFIL reported that 15 peacekeepers were injured in Lebanon following an attack by Israel upon them in apparent targeting of UN bases. These actions by Israel represent a serious breach of international law and of the agreement which has allowed UNIFIL to operate in Lebanon since the 1970s, for many decades. Our thoughts are with all those peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, and in particular with members of our own Defence Forces and, of course, their families.

Of course, our thoughts are with the civilians of Gaza and Lebanon, who are being killed and maimed in their thousands by the Israeli regime. Some 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza in just over a year, 115 every day, and over recent days it has appeared that the Israeli Government is now intent on doing to Lebanon what it has done to Gaza.

There is horrific reporting from Sally Hayden today about the killing of 22 civilians in a village in northern Lebanon, an area hitherto untargeted. Those who have died include 12 women and two children. There was an especially horrific atrocity in recent days in northern Gaza, where we witnessed people being burned alive at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following an Israeli attack. We know at least three have been killed and 40 injured. Médecins Sans Frontières reports that this is the seventh time Israel has bombed the hospital since March and the third time in a month. Most horrifying is the report of the death of a 19-year-old young man, engineering student Sha'ban Al-Dalou, who was burned alive in a hospital bed while hooked up to an IV drip.

Apparently, Washington has, at last, protested yesterday's atrocity to the Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, but that is simply not enough. As Israel continues its genocidal action in Gaza and now in Lebanon, burning civilians, attacking UN peacekeepers and attempting to evict UNRWA from the occupied territories, we now see the US Government sending military personnel to help Israel. It is hard to see how the US can act as any sort of peace broker when it has formalised participation in the conflict despite these atrocities. The question is what we in Ireland can do about this. We must do more and take unilateral action, if necessary and we cannot get consensus elsewhere, to sanction Israel more effectively.

We hear today that the Government has received changed advice from the Attorney General on the occupied territories Bill. In opposition, we say there has never been a legal impediment to Ireland passing that Bill and the Government has been too cautious on this. It is reported that the Attorney General agrees with us that the threshold has been reached and, of course, the ICJ advisory opinion has changed the context. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has said it is a game-changer. I believe the Taoiseach said today that we are now not waiting on an EU consensus to act. Let us act now. Passing the Bill is the next step we must take. It would represent a real stand against Israel's genocidal actions. The Taoiseach would have the support of all in opposition in this House and the Upper House. Can the Taoiseach assure us, in the limited time left for this Government, that he will pass the occupied territories Bill to create a meaningful sanction against a regime that is intent on such horrific slaughter of civilians?

I thank the Deputy for raising the most important situation at the moment in terms of the horrific humanitarian catastrophe, breach of international law and war crimes that are being committed. Tomorrow, I will attend a meeting of the European Union with the gulf states and on Thursday I will attend a meeting of the European Council where I will engage in detail with EU partners on the issue.

Yesterday, I took the opportunity to speak by phone with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to register my extraordinarily serious concern about the deteriorating situation in southern Lebanon. The specific purpose of that phone call related to the protection of our troops. I am conscious of the 379 Irish men and women serving with distinction in southern Lebanon. I believe I speak for the entire House and the entire country when I say that we respect their bravery and thank them for their service and their safety is paramount to all of us. I want to be absolutely crystal clear on the record of this House that the deliberate firing at UNIFIL posts is outrageous. It is a totally unacceptable breach of international law. It is a cause of deepest concern to the Irish people, most particularly the families of the Irish Defence Forces personnel serving in Lebanon. I want to join with the Deputy in registering that. There needs to be full accountability for these actions. I am deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon and the launch of an Israeli ground incursion across the blue line.

We saw particularly vicious and despicable attacks and targeting of refugee camps and civilian targets over the weekend. This is deeply shocking. While all of this is going on, we cannot allow the world to forget about Gaza. We cannot forget about the fact that what I believe is happening in Gaza is still a war on children. The World Food Programme has said it cannot get food in. We cannot get some of the sickest children out for life-saving and life-altering operations. I have spoken to the King and Queen of Jordan, who have led the humanitarian effort in many ways, in this regard. We cannot get the aid in. This could not be a more grave or serious situation.

I have been very clear. I have consistently said that every country must use every lever at its disposal. For different countries that means different things. For some countries, who are providing weapons, they should not provide weapons. For other countries like Ireland, where we are not providing weapons, we should be doing everything within our power as a country to register our absolute disgust at what is happening so that when our children look back on this time they say that in Ireland they did all they could to stand up for international law and human rights.

So far, we have recognised the State of Palestine and have consistently said at an EU level that the EU-Israeli trade association agreement should be reviewed because there are human rights clauses.

However, the Deputy is right that we have not managed to create a consensus about that, far from it. While I will continue to do that this week in bilateral engagements with colleagues, what I am saying is that, in light of the ICJ advisory opinion, I asked the Attorney General to review the situation as regards the occupied Palestinian territories to see whether Ireland can move on this. Last night, we received updated advice about legal issues surrounding the occupied Palestinian territories Bill, with the ICJ advisory opinion being an entirely new context. I have to be clear there are significant issues with the Bill, as currently drafted, from an EU point of view and from an Irish legal point of view. There genuinely are. That has been the consistent legal advice. However, the ICJ advisory opinion is potentially a game changer for what the country can do. It creates a new context for examination of the issue. We have agreed that formal advices will be presented to the Government next week. I am happy to engage with the Opposition with Government colleagues after that. I want to send a clear message - and I will do so at the European Council - that Ireland will no longer wait for EU consensus on this issue.

I thank the Taoiseach. It is encouraging to hear that we will not wait for European consensus and that the advice will go to the Cabinet next week. Certainly, if there is anything we in the Opposition can do to ensure the expediting of the passage of the occupied territories Bill, I think we will all do it. It has cross-party support. That is encouraging.

At EU level, we support the Taoiseach seeking a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement. That is important. He has said he will be at the European Council meeting. He was in Washington last week. He and the Government could go further in pushing the US Administration. That point has been made to me by Palestinian diplomats who are conscious that Ireland has a particular line of communication with the US Administration. We should be using it. As the Taoiseach said, we should use every lever at our disposal. However, we should not forget that the EU remains Israel's biggest trade partner and that EU money is enriching those who are profiting from the slaughter of civilians. The Taoiseach needs to push harder, both with the US Government and EU leaders at the European Council meeting this week, to ensure there is at least some consensus between some member states. I am conscious that we have acted with Spain in the past, especially on the recognition of the Palestinian state. There are other EU member states which share our view and increasing numbers of citizens of the 27 countries share the utter horror everyone feels on witnessing the horrific slaughter in the Middle East.

Political leaders across Europe are well behind the people on this matter. The reality is that Europe should be doing more.

Let me be clear about the United States. It is in no doubt at all about the position of the people and Government of Ireland about Gaza, Palestine and the need for a ceasefire and a two-state solution. I share the Deputy's view passionately and at every meeting I have attended since becoming Taoiseach, in public and private, I have consistently argued that the European Union should be doing more and should be using the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to bring about the circumstances for a ceasefire. That is my view. It is also the view of Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain. We have worked with him on this and will continue to do so. I will be with him at the European Council and I will have an opportunity to discuss this directly with him. I will continually make the case for Europe to do more throughout the week.

The point I will be honest about - it will not come as a surprise to anyone - is that there is no consensus at EU level. In the context of the ICJ advisory opinion, we can now re-examine what more Ireland can do because the ICJ advisory opinion places an obligation - not just a request - on us as a country that supports the ICJ to act.

The images of people of burning alive at Al Aqsa Hospital and in a tented camp beside it are possibly the most horrific, stomach churning, terrifying images of this horrific year of genocide by Israel against the people of Gaza. I suspect those images will be a lasting image in people's minds of the utter horror Israel is inflicting on the people of Gaza - burning people alive in hospitals, in ICU beds, in tents. Innocent people like Sha'ban al-Dalou and a falafel seller and a janitor were burned alive.

On Sunday, the same regime killed 22 people and injured 80 in a school in Nuseirat by repeatedly bombing a school.

There is evidence that, over the weekend, Israel has been using white phosphorus, a chemical weapon, in an area where innocent Lebanese people live and UN peacekeepers are present. Israel has threatened Irish troops and attacked UN bases. There is simply no atrocity Israel is not willing to commit. We are seeing that in front of our eyes.

Most likely, the white phosphorus, the bombs that burn people alive in Gaza and the weapons that are being deployed to murder people in Gaza and now Lebanon came from the United States. Very possibly, some of those that were used in horrific atrocities to commit this genocide went through Irish airspace, yet the Government has done nothing to stop it. The Ditch reports that, over the weekend and since the Israeli army pointed its tanks at our troops, two more flights have gone through Irish airspace carrying munitions to Israel to carry out its genocidal atrocities against the people of Gaza, but still the Government lets this happen and does nothing about it. There were thousands of people at Shannon Airport at the weekend – I was one of them – asking why the Government was not stopping this and saying that it was complicit as long as it allowed this to happen and the US military, which is up to its neck in arming and supporting Israel and giving succour to the crimes Israel is committing, to use the airport. When the Taoiseach was in the United States last week, why did he not publicly condemn it in front of the world for giving the weapons to Israel to commit these genocidal atrocities? Why did he not tell the US that its military was not welcome in Shannon Airport while it was arming genocidal atrocities? What is he going to do to stop the munitions for these atrocities, massacres and crimes going through Irish airspace?

I thank the Deputy, but his time is up.

What is the Taoiseach going to do to stop the Irish banks facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds to finance the genocidal massacre that is being committed? He is speaking out of both sides of his mouth unless he does something on these issues.

If we could measure empathy and compassion in decibels, I would not win and Deputy Boyd Barrett would, but the reality is he does not have a monopoly on concern for the people of Palestine. He certainly does not have a monopoly on concern for our peacekeeping troops, something I am updated on several times a day. We are in constant contact with our peacekeepers and keeping them safe is the number one priority of this Government and the United Nations, and we work on that on a round-the-clock basis.

I will make a point more broadly. It does not relate to anything Deputy Boyd Barrett specifically said, but to the broader issue of being able to differentiate between the people of Israel and the many people of the Jewish faith who live in this country and the policies pursued by the government of Netanyahu. At a time of heightened concern, including from the Government, and condemnation of the actions of the Israeli Government, I wish to differentiate clearly, and let those people know I can differentiate very clearly, between the people of Israel and the actions of Netanyahu and his government.

Ours is a Government that by any fair measure is acting. I find it peculiar that it is only when I engage with Deputy Boyd Barrett that he suggests there is inaction. When I sit down with the Palestinian President, he thanks me for the actions we are taking on behalf of the Irish people. When I sit down with the Palestinian Prime Minister, he thanks me for the actions we are taking. When I spoke to the Prime Minister-----

The Taoiseach is not answering any of the questions.

Please, Deputy.

I am sorry, but I am answering the charge that the Deputy puts on a constant basis, shouting and roaring.

Maybe the Taoiseach could answer the questions.

While the Deputy is shouting and roaring, we are acting and the President of Palestine knows it, the ambassador-----

What is the Government doing?

What are you doing about Irish airspace being used?

Now the cacophony.

Will the Deputies let the Taoiseach respond, please?

Go raibh míle agat.

He will not respond. He is answering everything but the question.

I will answer the questions exactly, but I will answer them as I see fit.

Listen, there was no one over on the Government side shouting when Deputy Boyd Barrett was speaking, so please, a little courtesy.

I am not going to accept the charge that this Government is not taking action in relation to calling out breaches of international law, standing up for human rights, supporting the people of Palestine, recognising the State of Palestine and supporting our peacekeepers. Quite frankly, I find it stomach-churning to hear Deputy Boyd Barrett suggesting we do not do that because that is absolutely what we do. We are taking more actions. I made clear in reply to the constructive contribution from Deputy Bacik the steps that we now intend to take, in working with the Opposition, to see if we can do more in respect of trade and the occupied territories.

Deputy Boyd Barrett also seems to have a view on what I did and did not say in the United States. I did not look left and right but I did not see the Deputy beside me.

The Taoiseach did not say it publicly.

I spoke to the President of the United States for approximately 58 minutes and I know exactly what I spoke to him about.

It was a quiet little chat.

The President of the United States knows exactly what Ireland's view is on this.

Did the Taoiseach ask him to stop sending weapons?

All levers at the disposal of all should be used and all countries should not provide weapons to Israel.

Did you ask him to stop sending weapons?

Deputy, please.

You voted in this House to stop me going to even have a conversation.

Did you ask him to stop sending weapons?

So you gave me a break.

Did you ask him to stop sending weapons?

Deputy.

Did you ask him to stop sending weapons?

I made it-----

Answer the question, which you have been dodging from the media.

Deputy.

I would love to answer it.

He answered the question. The Deputy was not listening.

Deputy Murphy, you have no role in asking any questions. The leader of your group is asking a question. Do your leader, as well as everybody else, the courtesy of listening to the reply.

That is it.

It would be nice to get an answer.

The answer is clear. The people over there voted in this House last week to suggest I should not go to the United States of America. They now want to critique what I said in the United States of America. If it had been up to them, I would not have been able to have a conversation. I made the point to President Biden that I make in public and private. All countries should use all levers to bring about a ceasefire and that includes the issue of weapons. I made that clear. On munitions, we are clear as to what can and cannot happen over Irish airspace. It is expressly prohibited for civilian aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. No such exemptions have been granted.

Last November, we introduced a motion calling on the Government to instigate action for genocide against Israel. The Government voted against it. In October last year, we introduced a motion asking the Government to put sanctions on Israel as it commenced that genocide. The Government voted against it. Before any of this started, we asked the Government to publicly support the demands of Amnesty International in calling for targeted sanctions against Israel for illegal occupation and apartheid. It refused to do it. The Government has been dragged kicking and screaming all the way. It has blocked the occupied territories Bill since 2018 and now, because there are tens of thousands of people on the streets and we see genocide unfold in front of our eyes, it is thinking about looking again at the occupied territories Bill. However, it continues to allow the US military to go through Shannon when the US Government is arming the Israeli state to commit genocide. Under the Genocide Convention, as I pointed out to the Taoiseach and his Government last November, we are obliged as signatories to do everything in our power to deter even the possibility of a genocide. The Government has not done anything to try to deter the possibility. That is why the Genocide Convention was developed after the Holocaust. We have done nothing to discharge our obligations to deter a genocide when weapons are going through Irish airspace to commit that genocide and a military machine up to its neck in Israel's genocidal crimes is using our airports. When is the Government going to do something about any of these things?

When is the Deputy going to stop distorting the record of this Government? I know what he will do. He will put up a little clip and cut it to show how he shouted at the Taoiseach and said we are doing nothing for the people in Palestine.

You never put up clips, do you? Jesus.

Do you not TikTok?

I say to the people watching those clips that they should know this. This country is leading at a European level in standing up for Palestine, international law and human rights. This country is now going to take further action on this. I think there is a bit of the Deputy that is frustrated and upset that we have offered to constructively work with the Opposition in how we move this forward. The Deputy is not the international court. The international law based system does not work with him standing up saying, "This is the way it is." We follow the advisory opinions of the ICJ and when the ICJ gave an advisory opinion in July the three leaders of this coalition asked what that means in the context of what this Parliament, this Dáil, can do. We sought updated legal advice and are now proceeding on that basis.

The Deputy seeks to divide on every single issue.

No, we seek action.

We are as outraged about human rights breaches in international law. However, we condemn all people who breach international law. The Deputy still refuses to condemn Iran and does not believe that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.