Brian Stanley Condemns Israel's Attacks, Urges Action on Flotilla
Brian Stanley condemned recent Israeli military actions and called for urgent measures to protect a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza. He urged the government to press for diplomatic and legal steps, pass the Occupied Terrorist Bill, and push to end the EU-Israeli trade agreement.
Brian Stanley listed a series of attacks he said had occurred in the last 23 months, including bombings of Iran, Qatar and southern Lebanon, and the levelling of Gaza. He said 66,000 plus bodies are dead and cited estimates that as many as 10,000 people could be buried under rubble.
He welcomed the families of those on the flotilla, expressed solidarity with their efforts, and condemned attacks by drones against flotilla participants. He argued the flotilla is exposing the need for a human-rights based corridor to get food into Gaza and noted trucks laden with food stand at Gaza's gates while over 2 million people are starving.
Brian Stanley called for the release of all hostages and specifically said Palestinian hostages and thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in what he described as inhuman conditions should also be treated as hostages. He urged that Israeli government members be brought before the International Criminal Court when the conflict is over.
He asked the government to do everything possible to protect flotilla participants, to press for an end to the EU-Israeli trade agreement, and to pass the Occupied Terrorist Bill quickly. While acknowledging some government action to date, he demanded sustained diplomatic pressure and legal accountability for those responsible.
Condemnation of Israeli actions
Brian Stanley listed a series of attacks he said had occurred in the last 23 months, including bombings of Iran, Qatar and southern Lebanon, and the levelling of Gaza. He said 66,000 plus bodies are dead and cited estimates that as many as 10,000 people could be buried under rubble.
Flotilla, drones and humanitarian corridor
He welcomed the families of those on the flotilla, expressed solidarity with their efforts, and condemned attacks by drones against flotilla participants. He argued the flotilla is exposing the need for a human-rights based corridor to get food into Gaza and noted trucks laden with food stand at Gaza's gates while over 2 million people are starving.
Prisoners, hostages and accountability
Brian Stanley called for the release of all hostages and specifically said Palestinian hostages and thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in what he described as inhuman conditions should also be treated as hostages. He urged that Israeli government members be brought before the International Criminal Court when the conflict is over.
Legislative and diplomatic demands
He asked the government to do everything possible to protect flotilla participants, to press for an end to the EU-Israeli trade agreement, and to pass the Occupied Terrorist Bill quickly. While acknowledging some government action to date, he demanded sustained diplomatic pressure and legal accountability for those responsible.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Victor Boyhan
Victor Boyhan honours Dr Mansell's peace and agricultural legacy
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy labels Blackwater fish kill an unprecedented ecocide
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy: Urges Observer as Flotilla Faces Smear Campaign
Sharon Keogan
Sharon Keogan blasts NUAC report, demands councillor autonomy
Richard O'Donoghue
Richard O'Donoghue: Fury Over Insurance Hikes and Health Waits
Danny Healy-Rae
Danny Healy-Rae on soaring insurance costs and claims culture
Transcript
The first thing I want to do is welcome the families of those who are on the flotilla here today and express my solidarity and support for what they are doing. What Israel has got away with over the last 80 years is nearly beyond words. Within the last 23 months they have illegally bombed Iran, they have bombed Qatar, they have literally blown up the negotiating table, they have bombed southern Lebanon, levelled large parts of it and of course they have levelled Gaza and 66,000 plus bodies are dead, people are dead. Some estimates say that there could be up to 10,000 people buried under the rubble. We must condemn those attacks on civilians, we must also condemn what is happening to the people on the flotilla and the dropping of drones, the attacks by drones sent by the Israelis on those in recent days. The courageous people who are on them are doing their utmost to expose the fact that we need a corridor open on a human rights basis to get food into Gaza. Trucks laden with food stand at the gates of Gaza, inside Gaza, millions, over 2 million people are starving. Words cannot describe what is happening and we must demand action. Action is taken against Israel for what they are doing. We must ensure that there is action taken in relation to the flotilla and I would ask the government here to do everything they can to protect those on the flotilla. We must do everything possible to end the genocide. If we look at what Netanyahu has done, the starvation and the bloodshed, it is beyond words what they have done in the last 23 months. All hostages need to be released, but all hostages that belong to Palestinians need to be released. There are thousands of Palestinian prisoners in inhuman conditions in Israeli jails. They are also hostages. I will just finish by saying that we must pass, I recognise the government here have done a certain amount, I acknowledge that, but we must pass the Occupied Terrorist Bill and do that quickly. We also need to use all diplomatic options to protect the flotilla. And the government need to press for an end to the EU-Israeli trade agreement. I know that you have been trying to get other governments on board. Continue with that. Well, that is welcome, but we need to do everything we can. And Israel, we need to use, this government needs to use its power along with others to get Israeli government members in front of the International Criminal Court when this is over, to face justice for what they have inflicted on these people over the last 80 years. Deputy Murphy.