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Mr Varadkar said the death toll in Gaza is “truly shocking” and said comparisons have been made that such violence hasn’t been seen since the Vietnam war.
“The death toll now is truly shocking, estimated at around 18,000 people and 1.9m people displaced and it’s difficult to know when we last saw military suffering on the scale,” he told the Dáil.
“Perhaps it was the Iraq War. Perhaps it was the war in Syria. Some people suggest not since the Vietnam War, have we seen such violence being inflicted on a civilian population.
“There must be an immediate sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and the relentless bombings and the killing of innocent civilians must end.”
Meanwhile, People Before Profit TDs have called on other TDs to not attend a Christmas party in the US Ambassador’s residence tonight.
The US Ambassador to Dublin, Claire Cronin, has invited some TDs to a “holiday reception” to celebrate the “joys of the season”.
People Before Profit have now called on TDs to boycott the event as it said the US has “essentially endorsed” the “mass murder of Palestinians”.
“We just think this is sick,” said People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett.
“The idea that public representatives, elected TDs, would go to a ‘Joys of the Season’ dinner with the representatives of a Government that refused even to vote for a ceasefire when the world is screaming for Israel to stop this horror on Gaza, is absolutely disgusting.”
“We will be today calling on all TDs, whether they be Government, or opposition, to boycott this event.”
Mr Boyd Barrett said the US “has essentially endorsed the mass murder of Palestinians, continues to endorse the slaughter that is taking place in Gaza”.
He said the event is “beyond disgusting”.
Party representatives will hold a protest at the Ambassador’s residence in Pheonix Park this evening.
Mick Barry said TDs who do not boycott the event “should be asked by the press why they have not done that”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Mr Boyd Barrett in the Dáil that TDs and Senators can make up their own mind if they want to attend the dinner event or not.
He said he won’t be there as he already has plans to go to a Christmas carol event in Maynooth.
Labour TDs Ged Nash and Aodhan Ó Riordain said they had “no interest” in the event and will not be boycotting it.
Ged Nash said it is not a party policy and that it is up to each TD if they decide to go or not.
A group of 10 Independent councillors have confirmed they are boycotting the event this evening.
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