The ordinary citizens are the helpless victims of the internecine politics of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where power comes from the barrel of a gun and not a ballot box — and last night it emerged that Irish girl Emily Hand, 8, believed dead, was in fact among the hostages.

We said at the start of the latest conflict — for it is a resumption of hostilities and not a new phenomenon — that one does not need to be a “supporter” of Israel or Palestine to deplore what is evil. And it is not necessary to take sides to lament the deaths of thousands of young children over recent weeks.

The UN calculates that more than 40% of the dead in Gaza since October 7 are children, with 3,900 reported victims and a further 1,250 missing and presumed dead.

“Women, children, and newborns in Gaza are disproportionately bearing the burden,” said a statement released by support agencies. Trade Minister Simon Coveney, speaking to the Irish Examiner  in Seoul, South Korea, reflected the more robustly critical attitude towards Israel’s actions which is emerging from Ireland’s political leadership. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the government of Benjamin Netanyahu was going beyond its legitimate right to self-defence. “It resembles something more approaching revenge,” he said.

Mr Coveney, commenting separately, said that “collapsing buildings on top of children, in an effort to target one Hamas leader, is not consistent with international humanitarian law and can’t be allowed to go on unchallenged”. 

The Government is staking out a position which allows it to push more vigorously for a ceasefire, although there is scant chance of this happening while Hamas continues to hold Jewish hostages and with overwhelming support in the Knesset and the wider country for action against the organisation, backing which is unlikely to be applied to Netanyahu once the threat is seen to be contained.

Throughout Europe, there have been large demonstrations in support of Palestine, although this weekend’s protest in Dublin, which included calls for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, was a relatively muted affair in comparison.

In London, where blockades of rail stations have been taking place, and where tempers are becoming more frayed in the context of Remembrance Day on November 11 coinciding with further protests, photos of young casualties were placed in Trafalgar Square with vigil candles. These were supplemented and amplified by the effigies of dead babies which have become a feature of such gatherings in recent weeks.

Coincidentally, and poignantly, the UK Jewish Film Festival is to open on Thursday with a screening of One Life, the story of Nicholas Winton, who organised a rescue scheme known as the Kindertransport for many hundreds of refugee children whose lives were threatened by Nazi Germany.

The humanity Winton showed is an eternal quality. We need to summon it now. 

Hamas must give up its hostages. Israel must call a truce to allow help for victims. Peacekeepers will be required, to ensure that a pause in hostilities is not exploited for any further evil intent.

'Bed-blocking' is part of the challenge

The suggestion from the HSE that older patients waiting in hospital for a nursing-home place must accept the first option offered, irrespective of its inconvenience, is an indicator of widespread problems ahead for our welfare services.

Ireland has an ageing population, too few staff, a budgetary shortfall, and insufficient community places for the people who need them. It is not surprising, although regrettable, that this focuses attention on what is frequently, although unflatteringly and unsympathetically, known as bed-blocking, and in official jargon, delayed discharge.

A memo issued to hospitals in recent days by HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster proposes that older patients on wards will have to take the first home suggested, even if it is miles away from family and friends. 

It is easy to understand why he might want to ginger things up. Last month, he announced a hiring freeze to include home helps, doctors in training, and agency staff. While he wanted an extra €2.4bn-€2.7bn for 2024, the budget allocation was €800m.

Perpetual headlines about patients on trolleys are an acute embarrassment, but there is a distinct lack of preparedness about the requirements of a country which will have to cater for more and more elderly people. Their healthcare is, by definition, more expensive, and the support services required to help them grow incrementally. Where is the strategy which will assist us to meet these demands?

The challenge is familiar to social workers. The Irish Association of Social Workers worries that a speedier discharge, without a robust infrastructure, will cause more problems. 

Proper rehabilitation and community help have to be in place, otherwise patients may re-present, worse off than they were originally. This is not only inefficient, but terribly sad. And, ultimately, more expensive.

Ticket prices don't fade away...

Music lovers and fans waiting this morning to bag their tickets for what may/may not be the final appearance in Ireland of Bruce Springsteen, now aged 73, may comfort themselves with the idea that at some stage in the future we may get a holographic version of the Boss with whom we can go ‘Dancing in the Dark’.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones acknowledges such shows as inevitable and Mick Jagger has mused happily on the possibilities of a posthumous tour.

Just don’t expect to get it on the cheap. However eye-watering today’s prices for the live Boss, the current cost of a balcony seat for ‘Voyage’, Abba’s groundbreaking digital concert in London, is €150.