Ireland must impose economic sanctions on Israel to highlight its ‘horrific’ onslaught on the people of Gaza, People Before Profit has claimed.

The party is today bringing forward a Dáil motion that would impose sanctions on Israel and prevent US troops from using Shannon Airport.

The Government has said it cannot support the motion because it "lacks balance".

The Dáil will debate the motion today after Israel and Hamas agreed a deal that will see a ceasefire and the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kelly told Newstalk Breakfast that today's motion is a result of Israel's "ongoing onslaught" against civilians in Gaza.

"Most people have seen on their television screens that it's absolutely abhorrent what's going on," he said.

"The collective punishment, the war crimes, the targeting of hospitals [and] the stopping of medical supplies, food, and water is horrific.

"We need to continue to highlight this onslaught by Israel on the people of Gaza and I think it's important in our national parliament to continue that.

"There were a number of motions last week that were defeated unfortunately to highlight sanctions Ireland could pose on the state of Israel but the Government chose not to do that."

Asked about the lack of mention of Hamas in the four-page long motion, Mr Kelly said the targeting of any civilians for any cause is wrong, but the events that occurred on October 7th have been "superseded" by Israel's actions since then.

Diplomacy

Mr Kelly also said he "doesn't buy" the need for keeping diplomatic relations open between Ireland and Israel.

The People Before Profit TD for Dublin Mid-West said that South Africa had already made the step of expelling their Israeli Ambassador and it's important for Ireland to also "take a stand".

"Why would you want to talk to the state [Israel]? In this case, diplomacy doesn't work," said Mr Kelly.

"The state of Israel has committed war crimes. The facts are that 13,000 people are dead, including 5,000 children. Why would you want to have any sort of ties with that state? Ireland should expel the Israeli Ambassador and put sanctions on the state of Israel."

Motions to expel the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland and refer Israel to the International Criminal Court, raised by the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin respectively, were defeated by Government in the Dáil last week.

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