After 20 months of bombing, more than 50,000 people have now been killed in Gaza. A further 117,000 have been injured, thousands of them children. What we are witnessing is a genocide, and we do not use that term lightly.

It is in truth a systematic extermination of the Palestinian people through bombardment tactics by Israel and now through starvation tactics as well, as we have seen a denial of all aid into the Gaza Strip for 71 days and a man-made famine taking hold. Today at 1 o'clock, my colleague Senator Cosgrove hosted a briefing in Leinster House with Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. Its call was simple: put words into actions. The Taoiseach rightly accused Israel of committing a war crime over the blockage of aid from entering Gaza, but where there are clear breaches of international law, then we must do all in our power to hold those committing those breaches to account. When will we see stronger action from the Government on this and in particular, when will we see the passage of the occupied territories Bill upon which we all united previously?

First of all, the Government has taken very strong action in respect of this. That is the international perception of Ireland, by the way, except in this House. It is probably one of the few places that does not acknowledge the range of actions the Government has taken, from the recognition of the Palestinian state to the intervention in the South African case under the Genocide Convention, from the very significant funding of UNRWA to the pursuit of an advisory opinion from the UN, both cosponsoring the resolution and intervening in the ICJ in that case and following up again with further co-sponsored resolutions at the UN and much more. The reality is, and we have to be brutally honest here, that Israel is not paying attention to international opinion.

It is not being sanctioned. That is why it is not paying attention.

Israel is rising roughshod over the views of the world and, as I said last week - Deputy Bacik acknowledged that, in fairness - committing a war crime-----

Yes.

-----in respect of the collective punishment of the Palestinian people-----

So sanction Israel.

That is continuing in terms of the prevention of aid, support and the basic necessities of life into Gaza.

It has been 71 days.

We have issued a statement jointly with a number of European Union states-----

I thank the Taoiseach.

Forget about statements. Sanction Israel.

I have had enough of your statements. You would not take on the people that you know.

I am sorry. A bit of order, please. We are moving on the next Member, Deputy Rice.

You were silent with your American friends-----

I have never been silent on Palestine, Micheál Martin,-----

-----on this question for a long, long time.

-----not for more than 20 years.

Please, Taoiseach.

In fairness, you were. You did not take it up with them.

I have never been silent. You should sanction them.

I call Deputy Rice.

It is cynical beyond belief.

No. Do your job.

Deputies should have respect for the speakers. I call Deputy Rice.