The Taoiseach has joined forces with the Spanish Prime Minister to urge the EU to urgently “review whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations”.
In a letter to the European Commission President, Leo Varadkar and Pedro Sanchez say the expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area of Gaza poses a “grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront”.
The two leaders note that Israel has a right to defend itself but insist that its actions “must be in line with international law and International Humanitarian Law, including in the obligation to protect civilians”.
They also call on the Commission to propose measures that can be taken by the EU if Israel is found to be in breach of its human rights obligations.
Mr Varadkar and Mr Sanchez also reiterate that an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed to prevent irreversible harm to the people in Gaza”.
The EU's commitment to human rights and dignity can have no exceptions. Given the critical situation in Rafah, Ireland and Spain have just requested the @EU_Commission to urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/9ZvzCjC2yM
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) February 14, 2024
They note that the International Court of Justice has already ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
They also express their “shared view” that the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA must be allowed to continue its work saving lives and addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“EU support to UNWRA must be maintained,” they write. “There is no pathway to achieving the urgent massive and sustained scale-up in humanitarian assistance without UNWRA playing a central role.”
Letter
“We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza, especially the impact the ongoing conflict is having on innocent Palestinians, especially children and women,” the leaders write.
They note that the war has seen almost 28,000 Palestinians killed, and more than 67,000 injured.
They warn that the Israeli offensive has also seen the displacement of 1.9 million people (85% of the population) within Gaza and the “wholesale destruction of homes and extensive damage to vital civilian infrastructure, including hospitals”.
Humanitarian law
They warn that Israel’s response to the Hamas terror attacks of October 7th must comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
“The response must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution,” they write.
“Importantly, IHL imposes a clear obligation on all parties, to all conflicts, to ensure the protection of civilians.
“The horrendous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other armed groups do not, and cannot, justify any breaches in IHL, in the military response, with the resulting consequences for the civilian population of Gaza.”
Sanctions
They urge the EU to urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, “which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship”.
The letter adds that if the Commission decides that Israel is in breach of its obligations, that it proposes appropriate measures for the European Council to consider.
“Finally, we must not lose sight of the pressing need for a political perspective to end the conflict,” they write.
“The implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to make sure this cycle of violence does not repeat itself.
“The EU has a responsibility to take action to make this a reality, in co-ordination with the parties and the international community, including through an international peace conference, as agreed by the European Council on 26 October.”
It comes after the Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney yesterday said Israel was now behaving like a ‘monster’ and a ‘rogue state’.
Those comments came after the Tánaiste and foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin described Israel’s action in Rafah as “absolutely inhumane and unacceptable”.
