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continue to be clear that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. It is our belief that it should have no role as a jihadi terrorist organisation in a free Palestine. However, Israel's assault has not been entirely about destroying Hamas; it is about destroying Gaza and the Palestinian … diminishing hope of a Palestinian State. Let us look at the comments of Israeli cabinet ministers. National security minister Ben-Gvir actively supports the continued annexation of the West Bank. Finance minister Smotrich has said there is no such thing as the Palestinian people. They have come

very much doubt it. Then there is the second excuse, that they killed X number of civilians but were targeting a Hamas terrorist. That is something akin to dropping an atomic bomb on a crowded shopping mall to get rid of one shoplifter. That is the level … something has to be done about it. There is continued aggressive encroachment by Israeli settlers, tens of thousands of them at this stage, actively supported by members of the Israeli military, without any sanctions or any effort by the Israeli Government to deter them. That simply cannot continue

tragic byproduct of war; it is a planned, strategic assault on civilian life and infrastructure in Gaza. Hamas is a terrorist organisation and its attacks on Israel on 7 October were obscene but no crime, however appalling, can justify what has followed. Collective punishment with bombings, shootings … with the egregious assault on Gaza, he and his extreme right-wing cabinet members have undermined a two-state solution by enabling and actively encouraging illegal settlements on the West Bank. He will not be remembered as a guardian of security but as the architect of perpetual conflict

unfolding in Gaza. The heinous attacks launched by Hamas against Israel on 7 October were reprehensible. We have consistently and rightly condemned the terrorist organisation that is Hamas prior to and since October 7. Hamas has brought nothing but death and destruction to Palestine and Israel. I welcome … bitter conflict. That is why Ireland is deeply committed to a just and sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland was an active participant at a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN in New York in July that was attended by over