Mick Barry TD said "Ahed Tamimi and her mother have been jailed for doing nothing more than protesting against the presence of Israeli soldiers in their town in the occupied West Bank. 

"She now faces 12 charges including aggravated assault and stone throwing. These are trumped up charges against a young 16 year old.

''Ahed is just one of thousands of young people facing repression by the Israeli state. Since 2000, over 12,000 children have been arrested and 313 were incarcerated.

"It is imperative that Minister Coveney raises this case, alongside the unlawful jailing of other children and activists with Benjamin Netanyahu when they meet today''.

The Cork North Central TD also condemned the recent decision by the Trump administration to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the U.S embassy there.

''The decision of Donald Trump's regime to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has sparked protests across the region. The Israeli state may clamp down on these protesters with the prospect of hundreds of people and other young activists being jailed.

"Palestinian people have every right to resist the criminal occupation of Gaza and the apartheid imposed by the Israeli ruling class.''

Mick Barry also commented on the banning of members of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign from entering Israel. IPSC was one of 20 international groups whose members were banned from entering the state. ''The banning of international activists from entering Israel and effectively Palestine should be strongly condemned by the Irish government and governments internationally.''