Costello condemns Israeli escalation of Gaza conflict

30 July 2014

by Cllr Joe Costello

The decision by Israel to escalate the war in Gaza is appalling. Already, some 1,200 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are civilians, have been killed in the conflict in Gaza. At the same time, 65 Israelis, the vast majority of whom (62) are soldiers, have been killed.

Turning the small densely populated urban area of Gaza, where the average age of the population is 17 years, into a sustained battleground, could be considered a war crime and a crime against humanity. Indeed, the shelling of two UNRWA schools within the past week, killing dozens of innocent civilians, who had on Israeli instructions moved from their homes to take refuge at the UN shelters, has been strongly condemned by the UN as “a violation of international law by Israeli forces”.

The destruction of the only power plant supplying energy to the whole of Gaza will have dire consequences. The effects of the loss of lighting, cooking, refrigeration, water supply, sanitation and sewage facilities for Gaza’s 1.8 million residents are unthinkable. Disease could become rampant in a short space of time.

The decision to escalate the conflict cannot be justified by the firing of rockets by Hamas. Israel’s military defence systems have rendered the rockets ineffective and very few casualties or injuries have resulted from the firing of thousands of rockets. Moreover, the conflict is spreading beyond Gaza with ten Palestinians being killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank in recent days.

Both sides should cease their senseless attacks and agree an immediate ceasefire as proposed by the United Nations, which would be also monitored by the UN.

The International Commission of Enquiry, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council last week and which is fully supported by Ireland in fulfilling its mandate, should then be able to start its work into the violation of international humanitarian and human rights laws during the conflict.