That unity has been eroded in recent weeks as Israel, before the current brief pause, had ramped up its bombardment of Gaza, which has so far killed more than 10,000 people. On Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Authority in Gaza said they had lost the ability to accurately count the death toll because of the collapse of part of the enclave's health system.

Words matter.

Members of the opposition have been right to echo the views of the thousands of people who have marched on the streets of our cities in recent weeks in condemnation of the sustained bombardment of Gaza which has caused untold destruction on people who have already suffered years of hardship.

Richard Boyd Barrett and others were right to use the privileged position they hold on the opposition benches to call out what they view as the "genocidal intent" of Israel.

"They have done this by warning they will cut off food and electricity; by referring to Palestinians as animals; by talking about inflicting a new Nakba — a new catastrophe — on the Palestinians; and by talking about things such as erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the earth. I could go on," the People Before Profit-Solidarity TD said.

But the Government is also right to choose its words wisely.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin made it clear that "motions did not get Irish citizens out of Gaza, diplomacy did. This is the bottom line."

Mr Martin knows that his theatre is not Leinster House, but his voice carries directly to Israel, Egypt, the West Bank, and other Middle Eastern states, that have real influence on what might happen next.

Political stance

Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy, in an unusual move for a member of the opposition, acknowledged in the Dáil how far politicians have gone, taking a stance that goes beyond our international counterparts.

"In the context of the horrendous savagery we have seen unfold in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel over the past six and a half weeks, the official words of Ireland matter.

"It was important that this Parliament was among the first in the world to call for a ceasefire — a full unequivocal ceasefire — and that it repeats that call at every opportunity. "

Mr Carthy added that the Taoiseach's words were also important when he "correctly acknowledged" that Israeli actions of cutting off power, fuel and water supplies constitute collective punishment.

"It was important when the Tánaiste rightly stated that the Israeli assault on Gaza contravenes the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, under which the concepts and principles of necessity and proportionality are key.

"Words were especially important when the Taoiseach stated that ongoing Israeli atrocities cannot be without consequence. Irish words matter, not more than but as much as those of anybody else."

There also comes a time when actions as well as words are needed. Actions such as the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and sanctions on Israel have been pushed by the opposition. For the Government, it must balance any actions with the ability to speak up by remaining in the room.

But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has now suggested that the Israeli government is not listening to anyone, including US President Joe Biden.

“Sadly the Israeli government doesn't listen to us. I'm not sure the Israeli government listens to anyone anymore. They used to listen to the Americans. I'm not even sure that's the case anymore. They are, as President Biden said, at risk of being blinded by rage," Mr Varadkar told the Dáil.