Foreign Conflicts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004

Wednesday, 11 February 2004

Ceisteanna (117)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

179 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received reports on the military incursion of Israeli forces into the Tal Al-Sultan neighbourhood in the west of Rafah in the Gaza Strip on 2 February 2004 which killed four Palestinians, one of whom was disabled; if he intends to raise the matter with the Israeli authorities or with his colleagues on the General Affairs and External Relations Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4352/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I receive regular reports from our diplomatic missions in Israel and the Palestinian Territories on the activities of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. The Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 is fully applicable to both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and must be observed by the Israeli occupation forces. European Union concerns about Israeli activities in the Gaza Strip, and Rafah in particular, were the subject of a démarche by our ambassador in Tel Aviv to the Israeli Foreign Ministry on 27 January. The situation in the Middle East features regularly on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and will be considered at the next Council on 23 February.