Mattie McGrath urges immediate Gaza ceasefire, UN peacekeepers
Mattie McGrath spoke about the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, the deployment of neutral UN peacekeeping forces, and unimpeded humanitarian aid. He framed the appeal in Ireland's tradition of principled neutrality and urged action to protect civilians, open safe humanitarian corridors, and pursue justice and accountability.
He said the violence must end and called unequivocally for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to halt the slaughter of innocent civilians caught in a brutal and unrelenting conflict.
He argued that Ireland's neutrality is not passive but principled, giving the country moral authority to press for the deployment and protection of neutral UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and ensure aid reaches those in need.
He insisted humanitarian aid must flow unimpeded - medical supplies, food and clean water are rights, not luxuries - and urged the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable.
He raised concern about "massive slaughter of Christians" in other parts of the world, criticised world leaders and media for turning a blind eye, and described that neglect as reprehensible and unacceptable.
He said he will be travelling in August to meet the ICLN, noted the issue is debated annually, and referred to parliamentary hearings from affected countries that highlight the savagery and brutality requiring attention.
Call for ceasefire
He said the violence must end and called unequivocally for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to halt the slaughter of innocent civilians caught in a brutal and unrelenting conflict.
Neutrality and UN peacekeeping
He argued that Ireland's neutrality is not passive but principled, giving the country moral authority to press for the deployment and protection of neutral UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and ensure aid reaches those in need.
Humanitarian aid and safe corridors
He insisted humanitarian aid must flow unimpeded - medical supplies, food and clean water are rights, not luxuries - and urged the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable.
Concerns about other global atrocities
He raised concern about "massive slaughter of Christians" in other parts of the world, criticised world leaders and media for turning a blind eye, and described that neglect as reprehensible and unacceptable.
Planned travel and parliamentary engagement
He said he will be travelling in August to meet the ICLN, noted the issue is debated annually, and referred to parliamentary hearings from affected countries that highlight the savagery and brutality requiring attention.
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Transcript
I speak here today with a heavy heart as we witnessed the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and in recent death of slaughter of innocent civilians. They are caught up in a crossfire of a brutal and unrelenting conflict. This suffering demands not just our sympathy but our swift action. Ireland has a proud tradition of neutrality, of standing actively for peace, for international law and for the protection of human dignity. That tradition must guide us now. We must call unequivocally for an immediate and sustained ceasefire. The violence must end. We must support the deployment and protection of neutral UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who are most needed. Our neutrality is not passive. It is principled and has been always. It gives us the moral authority to be a vice for peace on the international stage and we must use it and use it strongly. Humanitarian aid must flow unimpeded. Medical supplies, food and clean water are not luxuries, you know. They are rights. Ireland must press for safe humanitarian corridors. A ceasefire is the first step, but peace will only come through justice, accountability and respect for international law on all sides. Let us be clear. Ireland stands for peace and neutrality and the protection of life. Indeed, there are other parts of the world where there is massive slaughter of Christians going on, on a daily, if not hourly basis. And the world's leaders and the world's media seem to turn a blind eye to it. And that is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. And I will be travelling in August to meet the ICLN. And we debate that each year. There will be members there. Parliament hearings from many of those countries are affected by this savagery and brutality. And it's pretty extensive. And we must be advised for that also. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.