Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said she hoped Ireland would be very active in the coming weeks in promoting a ceasefire on the Gaza Strip.

She added that Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan should be invited to the House when it resumed in September for a debate on the situation in the Middle East.

“We are all horrified and appalled by the heinous killing of four boys yesterday, two 10-year-olds, a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old, all from the same extended family, who were playing football on a beach in Gaza,’’ said Ms Bacik.

Michael Mullins (FG) said he hoped the short window of opportunity presented by the ceasefire would be used productively by all sides to bring an end to the appalling killings witnessed in recent weeks.

“It beggars belief that so many lives are being put at risk and that people will not get around a table and discuss the problems.’’

‘Indiscriminate targeting’

Kathryn Reilly

(SF) said four children had been targeted and killed on a beach. “That was an indiscriminate targeting of civilians. If that were to happen in Bundoran, Skerries, Tramore, Inchydoney or Kilkee we would be dragging Ministers across hot coals to discuss it.’’

Meanwhile, Senators welcomed representatives of the Irish Deaf Society who watched proceedings from the visitors' gallery. Mark Daly (FF) thanked cathaoirleach Paddy Burke and the Oireachtas staff for facilitating the attendance of sign language interpreters.