Debate contribution: Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
Debate contribution by Mr Declan Kearney on .
- MLA
- Mr Declan Kearney
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 13 October 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Matters of the Day
- Heading
- Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5175367
Read the official Assembly record
Text
We must hope that the ceasefire announcement in Gaza will now mark a step change in guaranteeing a durable peace process for Palestine and the Middle East. It must open up a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and national sovereignty. For two years, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip, making it a graveyard for international law and the most dangerous place on the planet for a child to live. Israel has waged a genocidal war against the Palestinian people while being given political cover, funding and weapons by the US, Britain and other Western states. At the same time, annexation and ethnic cleansing are being systematically implemented in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. All of that must end if there is to be a permanent peace for Palestine and Israel. Therefore, the talks breakthrough presents a pivotal moment for the Palestinian people. It holds within it potential and significant challenges. The immediate focus must be to alleviate the suffering and the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. A potential opportunity now exists to establish a peace process based upon continuing negotiations that address all issues. New phases of talks must address the root causes of Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid system in Palestine and the creation of a permanent peace process, established within the framework of international law. Success will depend on all sides committing to negotiate with good faith. Agreements made must be honoured, and guarantees on implementation will be essential. That extends to all guarantors, holding Israel to its commitments and ensuring a withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the West Bank and from Gaza and the demilitarisation of the overall situation. In the meantime, increased global pressure to ensure compliance with international law is more urgent than ever. Multilateral institutions, the Arab world and progressive Governments and parties throughout the international community must act together and speak with one voice to ensure that the Palestinian people and their thirst for peace and justice and national freedom will finally be achieved.
333 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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