Prionsias de Rossa, a passionate defender of the rights of the Palestinian people

Gaza has become an international byword for crimes against humanity. Over 1.5 million people are being held captive in an area the size of Cavan and are deprived by the Israelis of many basic items including medical devices. The UN estimates that 80 per cent of people in Gaza are now living below the poverty line. 300,000 are now living in abject poverty up from 100,000 since the siege started. Drinking water is badly polluted from untreated sewage and fuel and cooking gas are always in short supply, with electricity only available eight hours per day at most. The Israelis will not permit any building materials into the area so there is no restoration in the devastated homes and schools. Gaza's trade with the outside world has ground to a halt apart from the occasional truckload of flowers or strawberries.

The 'peaceful process' has become more like a 'war process'. Operation Cast Lead, launched by Israel in December 2008/January 2009 resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Palestinians, including 333 children. In April 2010, in response to rocket attacks from Gaza, Israel launched its biggest air strikes on Gaza since Operation Cast Lead, and more recently, the world witnessed the Israeli attack in international waters on the humanitarian aid flotilla which resulted in the deaths of nine civilians.

The public have called on the EU and the Irish Government to impose economic and political sanctions on Israel following the attack on the flotilla which was carrying medical aid and building materials to Gaza. However Defence Minister Tony Killeen confirmed that Ireland would continue to buy military equipment from Israel and that there would be no interruption of trade agreement between the two countries.

In May I along with Deputy Joe Costello led a protest to the Department of Foreign Affairs against Israel's accession to the OECD. One of the conditions for entry to the OECD is a commitment to human rights and Israel's actions in relation to Gaza, and its treatment of Israeli-Palestinians in Israel, show clearly that this commitment is far from forthcoming. Only one existing member of the OECD was needed to block Israel's entry but unfortunately not one member, not even Ireland, was prepared to use their veto. This despite Foreign Minister Micheál Martin's own account of his trip to Gaza in February 2010 when he wrote later in the International Herald Tribune "I could see for myself the despair and suffering etched in the faces of those who queued for the most basic rations of rice, milk powder and sunflower oil." Mr Martin concluded that Gaza "is fast in danger of becoming a tolerated humanitarian crisis, a situation that most right-thinking people recognise as utterly unacceptable in this day and age."

Now Israel has announced a sham enquiry into its attack on the aid flotilla. It is not international, it is not credible, nor will it address the role of government ministers in the political decisions which gave rise to the attack. An urgent response is required from the international community. Smart sanctions are necessary. Sanctions should be applied on a step by step basis in the absence of moves by Israel, within a specific timetable, to respect international law. Meanwhile the proximity talks should continue and only when key issues are resolved should direct negotiations be opened. Steps must also be initiated to draw Hamas in from the political margins. It will be impossible to make an agreement stick without their engagement.