Gaza conflict has seen breaches of international law and violations of human rights
Issued : Sunday 29 March, 2009
Statement by Joe Costello TD
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development
The Conference Motions on the Israeli army's three week military incursion into the Gaza Strip reflects the growing belief amongst a significant number of people that Israel has become a rogue State.
Already this week Human Rights Watch has demanded an investigation into what it describes as "deliberate and reckless" use of white phosphorous over densely populated areas right throughout the offensive.
The United Nations has called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes.
Amnesty International has done likewise.
On Thursday John Ging the Director of the United Nations Relief Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza City attended the Joint Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee. He gave a graphic description of the dire situation in Gaza during and after the conflict including his relief agency being bombed by the Israeli Defence Forces while the U.N. General Secretary Ban-Ki-moon was holding peace talks with Israeli leaders.
It is difficult not to conclude that there have been breaches of international law, violations of human rights and the commission of war crimes.
The EU is Israel's major trading partner through the EU/Israel European Mediterranean Association Agreement of 1995 and the major provider of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Territories. At the same time the international community came together to provide €3.5 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza City without a cent being contributed by those who caused the destruction, Israel.
What could be done with that money for the 1.5 million people in Gaza in relation to education, health, housing and employment instead of having to rebuild a war ravaged city!
The old story cannot continue. There must be consequences for those responsible.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs decided to bring the matter to a head with two motions, one from the Labour Party and the other from Fianna Fáil.
The Committee has invited the United Nations Special Rapporteur dealing with human rights on Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967 and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy to meet the Committee to determine as a matter of fact if there has been a breach of Article Two of the EU/Israeli European Mediterranean Association Agreement of 1995. I have also requested the Committee to include Dick Spring in the invitation as he was Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs at the signing of the Agreement.
Article 2 of the 1995 Agreement states that:
"Relations between the Parties as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of the Agreement"
Arising from the outcome of those deliberations the Joint Oireachtas EU Affairs Committee will seek to determine whether Israel has breached the human rights, democratic principles, internal and international policy which are essential to the Agreement and will make a recommendation to the Government and the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the EU to act in accordance with their findings.
It is time to make a determination on the Gaza siege based on the best available evidence and to take the appropriate action domestically and through the EU.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Joe Costello at 087 245 0777
www.labour.ie/press
