A potentially divisive stand-off is re-emerging in the European Parliament over whether to include the word 'genocide' in a vote on the situation in Gaza.
The inclusion of the term is being sought by a number of left-leaning MEPs in a non-binding resolution on the situation in Gaza.
While it is unlikely to be included due to voting numbers in the European Parliament, it will be the subject of discussions between political MEP groups on Tuesday evening.
However, other centrist and right of centre groups which hold the majority of votes in the European Parliament are opposed to the potential inclusion of the wording.
The Socialists and Democrats group which includes Labour's Aodhán Ó Ríordáin as a member, wants the phrase "clear evidence of genocide in Gaza" to be included in the resolution, and is likely to be backed by The Left group, which includes Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion and Independent Luke Ming Flanagan.
However, the European People's Party which among its wide-reaching membership includes Fine Gael's Sean Kelly, Regina Doherty, Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh is expected to oppose the word 'genocide' being included for varying reasons, as does the European Conservatives and Reformists Group which does not have any Irish MEP members.
The exact wording of the non-binding resolution on the situation in Gaza will be negotiated on Tuesday evening with a vote by the 720 European Parliament members due to take place on Thursday.
If the EPP (188 seats) and ECR (78) vote against the resolution, they are likely to be joined by the far right Patriots group (84) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (25), meaning this bloc would have the backing of 375 parliament members.
This would be in contrast to the S&Ds (136), The Left (46), and the Greens (53) combined 235 votes, regardless of any position taken by the Renew Group which includes Fianna Fail (77) and Independents (32).
Speaking to RTÉ News, Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said suggested wording by the S&Ds "is a matter of political morality and also of truth and international law", before saying it would be "cowardice" if the EPP does not support the use of the term in the non-binding resolution.
Meanwhile, in a media briefing on Tuesday morning, the EPP's chair Manfred Weber said what is most important is to find a united approach rather than to be divided on whether to describe what is happening as genocide or not.
The briefings occurred as Irish MEPs spoke during a European Parliament debate on Gaza this morning to criticise the "shameful silence" from EU leaders over what is happening in Gaza.
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion hit out at what she said is the "shameful silence" over what is happening.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said Gaza is "on its knees" and Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews said the Israeli defence forces no longer "agonise" over the killing of children during the two hour debate in Strasbourg.
While a number of MEPs from other countries clashed over what is happening, Sinn Féin's Kathleen Funchion said "we are now more than 700 days into Israel's war in Gaza and the response from leaders has been a shameful silence".
She said: "I will call out a genocide wherever it happens," and rejected comments from other MEPs that there is no clear evidence of what can legally be described as a genocide by saying "you are the one who is denying a genocide, and history will not look well on you".
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said "words cannot do justice to the indignity" of what is happening and that it is "heartbreaking to see children beg for food every day", adding that Gaza "is on its knees".
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews said: "We have 50,000, more than 50,000, children killed in Gaza, this is something Israel used to agonise about. This is no longer in any way defensible."
