The United Nations warned this week that 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if humanitarian aid is not allowed to enter. Last night, there were more child casualties, including a week-old baby. There are no words to describe the horror that Israel is inflicting on the people of Gaza. The wickedness of using starvation as a weapon of war against children cannot be overstated. It is a weapon of genocide. Human suffering at this scale requires us to do all in our power to stop it.

Ours is a small country but we have fierce diplomatic power. We know that Ireland and Spain led calls for a review of the EU-Israel trade deal. That is welcome. It is welcome, too, to see growing opposition to the deal among other member states. That was a change we led on, but we have a moral obligation to do more. Countries around the world - our British visitors may hear this too - have an obligation to do more. The Taoiseach has a moral obligation. The world is failing to stand with Gaza. Ireland must stand with Palestinian children and civilians. We must stand up for humanity because the response of the world would be very different if the headlines read that 14,000 babies in Ireland, Britain or any EU country would starve to death by the weekend. Every step would be taken to stop the preventable deaths of infants. Their suffering would not be treated with indifference, yet in Gaza it seems the world is going to stand by while 14,000 infants perish. History will not forgive us for it.

António Guterres has said the floodgates of horror have reopened and Gaza is a killing field. Civilians are in an endless death loop. Netanyahu's campaign was always driven by a plan to displace and exterminate. Josep Borrell has said, "Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide." More and more people, even within Israel, are recognising this. I heard from an Israeli citizen this week who said, "As a human being, I hate this government with all my heart. They are willing to sacrifice innocent lives, Palestinians and our own hostages. This madness has to end."

President Michael D. Higgins is right. The UN Security Council has failed in carrying out its primary responsibility to maintain international peace, and at what cost of failure? More than 55,000 people, including 15,000 children, have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023. Nearly 300,000 more children are on the brink of death and thousands are injured. This is devastation, and the UN is failing in all of our names. We must do more. Next week, we in Labour will bring a motion before the Dáil to mandate the Government to table an emergency resolution at the UN General Assembly to note the failure of the Security Council and to call for collective measures to secure a lasting ceasefire, a sustainable peace agreement and an international peacekeeping force for Gaza, to allow humanitarian aid to flow and to save lives. Our colleague Deputy Duncan Smith and I will be looking for unanimous support across this House for all our proposals. Will the Taoiseach pass the occupied territories Bill at home and, abroad, will he work to table that emergency motion at the UN?

Aontaím go hiomlán leis an Teachta. Is uafásach ar fad an méid atá ag tarlú i nGaza leis an gcogadh uafásach agus na mílte daoine, leanaí go háirithe, ag fáil bháis de dheasca polasaithe Rialtas Iosrael. I agree with the Deputy's presentation of what is an absolutely barbaric and appalling situation in Gaza. There is absolutely no justification in any shape or form for what is occurring. The prosecution of this war is causing immense death, destruction and suffering to an entire population. I have said recently that it is simply wrong in principle and in law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population, whatever the circumstances. This behaviour clearly constitutes a war crime. It is also wholly unacceptable to contemplate the mass displacement of people in Gaza or to talk of permanent occupation. Not only is it an affront to decency and international law, but history tells us it offers no solution.

I strongly welcome the decision to review the European Union-Israel Association Agreement together with Spain. As the Deputy said, Ireland first called for this. I believe the agreement should now be suspended pending the review. Yesterday evening, I saw comments from the minister for finance of Israel, Minister Smotrich, speaking openly about conquering Gaza and, with God's help, pushing the population south and into third countries. This is a senior minister of the Israeli Government articulating, in no uncertain terms, what the agenda is. It is absolutely reprehensible.

We also need to say consistently that the hostages need to be released.

I said that. We said that.

It is absolutely unacceptable that innocent people were abducted and have remained hostages for so long after 7 October. That was also an appalling, barbaric crime by Hamas, which needs, in my view, to stop the war and disband, because it has caused nothing but misery to its own people. The Israeli Government needs to stop what is happening right now. We need a ceasefire. We need a restoration of discussions towards a political pathway. Fundamentally, we need a massive surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. What is happening is incomprehensible. It is beyond any moral compass. I have consistently called for an international delegation, both political and journalists or media, to be allowed into Gaza to see the enormity of the destruction that has undoubtedly taken place. The world has to press to be allowed into Gaza to see what is going on.

I have acknowledged Ireland's leadership at EU level on Gaza. That is welcome but we can and should do more. The Taoiseach used strong words, which I welcome. He acknowledged that what Israel is carrying out is a war crime. Of course, like the Taoiseach, I have condemned Hamas outright. Of course I have called for the release of all hostages. What Israel is doing now, with impunity, while we see 14,000 infants on the brink of death through starvation, has to stop. Ireland has to do more at international level and here at home to use every lever in our power to stop what Israel is doing. If the Taoiseach fears that the occupied territories Bill will be struck down, let us test that and take that risk, because across the Opposition, there is support for the occupied territories Bill. We have all been pushing for it to be passed. The Taoiseach told me yesterday that there would be progress on it. If the Taoiseach fears that the General Assembly will vote the wrong way, let us find out. Let us take that bold and brave step at a United Nations level. I call on the Taoiseach to do that. Our motion next week will call on all parties in this House to support that step.

To be fair, it is more than just words from Ireland. We have contributed significant funding to Palestine, to the Palestinian Authority and to UNRWA, which has been much maligned but is the only UN agency that has the capacity not only to facilitate the surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza but also to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza. Most people will admit that privately if they are not prepared to admit it publicly. I am talking about international opinion.

Regarding the UN, Ireland has been very active with other countries. We recognised the State of Palestine with Norway and Spain back in May last year. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an advisory opinion on that and the Attorney General on behalf of the Government made an oral submission to the court in respect of this. We then co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 September which seeks to implement the court's advisory opinion.

Thank you, Taoiseach.

We also intervened in the South African International Court of Justice case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. Now we will work very hard in respect of the EU-Israel Association Council-----

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats.

-----where there has been a significant shift in opinion in the European Union, which is important.