We were without water and electricity today but people in Gaza are without it all the time

Cllr Brendan Barry noted that according to the UN, between October 7 and January 11, over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and over 8,000 people are missing in the rubble with 10,000 children killed and 8,000 women killed.

70% of these victims are women and children. Over 59,600 have been maimed and injured, while nearly 85% of the population of Gaza (1.9 million out of the 2.3 million population) have been displaced.

Cllr Barry said that water and electricity supplies were off in Leitrim due to the storm but the people of Gaza "controlled by Israel which is occupying that area and they're turning it off to deprive those people of electricity and water as well as restricting the access of food, medical supplies, etc. They are starving the people there with 2.3m people at risk of famine."

He continued: "These crimes against humanity are genocide. As a state party to the Geneva Convention, Ireland should support South Africa in referring Israel to the International Court of Justice in solidarity with the people of Palestine."

He said the war has raged on for 106 days now and said that while "it's happening right in front of our eyes but so many countries and world leaders are doing nothing to stop it."

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke remarked that there also "seemed to be a step back in supporting Ukraine in their efforts".