Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:504 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Goldstone report; if he will comment on his recent trip to Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12669/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 March 2010
Ceisteanna (381)
Freagraí scríofa
As I have reported to the House on previous occasions, most recently on 11 February, I consider the Goldstone Report to be a serious and important contribution to efforts to determine the truth of allegations about events in Gaza a year ago, to establish accountability for them, and to seek to prevent a recurrence of such alleged infringements of international law. I have commended Judge Goldstone and his colleagues, including retired Defence Forces Colonel Desmond Travers, for their work.
The UN General Assembly last November adopted a Resolution, supported by Ireland, which called on the parties to the conflict to report within three months on their implementation of the Resolution, and particularly the requirement to establish independent and transparent enquiries into allegations relating to the conduct of their forces during the conflict. On 4 February UN Secretary General Ban sent to the General Assembly the reports he had received from Israel and the Palestinian Authority. SG Ban noted at that stage that the reports do not provide enough information to be clear yet if the General Assembly Resolution has been complied with, or is in the process of being complied with.
The UN General Assembly subsequently adopted on 26 February a follow-up Resolution on the Goldstone Report which renewed the call on all parties to establish and conduct credible and independent investigations to an international standard. Ireland was one of the 98 countries who voted in favour of this Resolution. The Resolution calls for a further report from the SG within a period of five months, by 26 July, on the implementation of the Resolution. Discussions are now also underway at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on follow up to the original Resolution adopted by the HRC last October, following publication of the Goldstone Report.
Regarding my recent visit to Gaza, it had been my intention to travel to Gaza for some time — I had repeatedly expressed my serious concerns over the situation there and it was clearly important that I see for myself the full humanitarian consequences of the blockade imposed on the Strip. My visit was also an invaluable opportunity to examine the vital humanitarian work being undertaken by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza and which Irish Aid is actively supporting.
The programme for my visit was drawn up in close collaboration with UNRWA and its Irish born Director of Operations, John Ging, and afforded me the opportunity to see the truly impressive work which UNRWA is performing in maintaining basic humanitarian services for the people of Gaza. Among the locations I visited were an UNRWA food distribution centre in Rafah and two UNRWA preparatory schools.
I have stated clearly since visiting Gaza that the current conditions prevailing for the ordinary population in Gaza are inhumane and utterly unacceptable in terms of accepted international standards of human rights. The international community has to do very much more to bring the unacceptable humanitarian crisis in Gaza to an end. Eighty per cent of the population of Gaza now live below the poverty line and UNRWA are encountering increasing levels of abject poverty where people basically do not have enough food, even with their meagre food allocations, to live. This situation can not be allowed to continue, or deteriorate even further.
At a meeting with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and my fellow EU Foreign Ministers in Cordoba on 5 March I raised my full concerns regarding Gaza and I therefore very much welcome both the High Representative's visit to Gaza on 18 March as well as UN Secretary General Ban's visit on 21 March. These visits are contributing to maintain international attention on Gaza and are highlighting the difficulties faced on a daily basis by the population. I note that there has been some recent easing of restrictions by the Israeli authorities which has allowed in materials for 150 housing units, necessary work on the sewage treatment plant and on the flour mill, as well as some window glass and window and door frames. However welcome this easing of restrictions is, the only acceptable policy remains for a complete and lasting end to the blockade. I personally will continue to raise the intolerable situation in Gaza at EU and international level and to lend my support to efforts to end the blockade as soon as possible.