The government is acting as if there is a ceasefire in Gaza despite Israel’s ongoing killing of innocent Palestinians, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson said:
“Israel continues to murder with impunity while European leaders talk about the progress of the Gaza peace agreement.
“There is no peace; last night, at least 21 Palestinians were killed in attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces, including several children.
“Israel claims the attacks were conducted in response to a violation of the peace agreement by Hamas, who it says wounded an IDF soldier – Benjamin Netanyahu uses this excuse to continue his ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and violate international law in the gravest of manners.
“At the same time, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said that the evacuation of patients and wounded via the Rafah crossing has been cancelled for today, yet Israel denies this fact, saying that the crossing is open ‘as usual’, blaming the World Health Organisation for coordination failures.
“Israel is saying that up is down and black is white, and world leaders are nodding along in agreement – our government and its European counterparts must get real and open their eyes to reality, which is that Israel’s genocide in Gaza never stopped.
“There is no ceasefire, and Israel is not a sincere actor in this facade of a peace process – we must stop pretending otherwise.
“Ireland must step up, pass the Occupied Territories Bill, and take credible action to address Israel’s crimes – the government often boasts about how we’re a country that upholds international law, but it’s kidding itself if it truly believes that.
“Only the passing of an Occupied Territories Bill which includes a ban on goods and services will have any impact on Netanyahu’s regime. It’s time the government follows through on its promises.”
February 4th, 2026