Danny Healy-Rae speaks out on Gaza violence and accountability
Danny Healy-Rae addressed the chamber, condemning the violence in Gaza and describing the humanitarian toll on children, elderly and families. He called for international actors to stop sending weapons and money that sustain the conflict and urged accountability for those he holds responsible.
Healy-Rae expressed outrage at what he described as almost two years of terrible events in Gaza, comparing the scale of suffering to historic atrocities and saying the situation is "so, so, so wrong." He paid particular attention to the deaths of newborns, children and civilians trapped under rubble.
Healy-Rae criticised the current United States administration and singled out the role of external support, saying governments should stop providing guns, money and other assistance that enable the violence to continue. He said there should be more humanity in international policy.
Healy-Rae argued that political leadership should face consequences, saying that the leader he named should be incarcerated if he appears outside Israel or America and never again see the light of day. He framed this as a view of justice for the harm done to innocent people.
Speaking as a representative of Kerry, Healy-Rae said constituents repeatedly ask what can be done and that inside the chamber they feel largely powerless beyond speaking out. He advised people not to travel into the conflict zone, saying it is not safe and that those trying to help must understand the risks.
Healy-Rae described the human cost in emotive terms, emphasising innocent children, mothers, fathers and the elderly left without shelter and covered in debris. He concluded with a plea that such suffering never be seen again and expressed deep personal sorrow and disappointment.
Immediate condemnation
Healy-Rae expressed outrage at what he described as almost two years of terrible events in Gaza, comparing the scale of suffering to historic atrocities and saying the situation is "so, so, so wrong." He paid particular attention to the deaths of newborns, children and civilians trapped under rubble.
International support criticised
Healy-Rae criticised the current United States administration and singled out the role of external support, saying governments should stop providing guns, money and other assistance that enable the violence to continue. He said there should be more humanity in international policy.
Call to accountability
Healy-Rae argued that political leadership should face consequences, saying that the leader he named should be incarcerated if he appears outside Israel or America and never again see the light of day. He framed this as a view of justice for the harm done to innocent people.
Constituency concerns and safety advice
Speaking as a representative of Kerry, Healy-Rae said constituents repeatedly ask what can be done and that inside the chamber they feel largely powerless beyond speaking out. He advised people not to travel into the conflict zone, saying it is not safe and that those trying to help must understand the risks.
Humanitarian focus
Healy-Rae described the human cost in emotive terms, emphasising innocent children, mothers, fathers and the elderly left without shelter and covered in debris. He concluded with a plea that such suffering never be seen again and expressed deep personal sorrow and disappointment.
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Transcript
I suppose like everyone else in here, and I suppose like most of the world, we're all outraged with what has been happening in Gaza to the Palestine people over the last almost two years now. And it's terrible, it's horrible, and no words that I can use would greatly say the wrong that has been done, and I look across at this man across from Wexford that spoke yesterday evening so eloquently, and so heartfelt about children that were only barely born, and that they're killed before they even see the light of day, it is so, so, so wrong. And growing up as a young fella, we were taught about the terrible things that Hitler did. We know he did terrible things, but these, what's happening now in my mind is a way worse altogether if we can import, if things can be measured or if there's such a thing. I suppose we're talking here in this chamber, and we're elected to represent the people of Ireland, and as far as I'm concerned to represent the people of Kerry. But the people that I'm talking to every day are so upset, and ask us, what can we do? We're powerless here inside this chamber. All we can do is talk. And, but we have to talk, and I always believe in saying, oh, what's in my mind to say, and go behind our back doors saying what I have to say, or I don't talk in riddles. But I'm very, very disappointed for someone that was brought up to appreciate America, the USA, because I have, two of my uncles, my father's brothers, and two sisters of my father's, they went out there in the late 50s and early 60s, and they told us the great country that it was. But we're so disappointed with the administration there now, and you could blame one man, it's Trump or whatever, but there's an administration there, there's a government. And surely there should be some kind of humanity in those people, and try to stop what's going on, and stop giving them the guns, or stop giving them the money, or stop giving them whatever they're bloody giving them to keep going, because it's so, so, so wrong. I mean, a human life is precious, and to think that little children are being blown out of it, and that they're buried under apartments and under buildings, it's so, so wrong, and that the rest of the world have to stand idly by, and can do nothing to help poor innocent people. I'm so sorry that I can't do anything. I know that all of you are disappointed and concerned about it, but look, we respect those people that went out on the floor tillers, but my advice would be, I know they're trying to do good, but my advice to them is not to have any more people go, because it's not safe there, and they need to understand that. There's no logic in Netanyahu's mind, but if he appears in any other part of the world, outside of Israel, or outside of America, he should be incarcerated, and never again left to see the light of day. That's how I feel, I feel so badly about him. I never thought that anyone could be so, and I mean, we always heard that the fine must fit the crime, and who pay according to the harm that he did, but there's no explanation, or no understanding, there's no forgiveness anywhere for what he has done to poor innocent people, and they're having no place to sleep, and they're covered in debris and everything. It's horrible, and I hope that we'll never again, however long we live, that we'll see anything like this in any other part of the world. The world can't describe the heart that I'm feeling for innocent children, and elderly people, and mothers and fathers, the whole lot of them. It's just so disgraceful what's going on. Thank you, Kahir. Okay, thanks,uri. Thank you. Alright, thanks, alright. I arrived. Here we have you.