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Ireland should initiate prosecutioins for war crimes arising from war on Gaza

Issued : Wednesday 10 March, 2010

Labour MEP for Dublin and Chair of the EP Delegation to Palestine, Proinsias De Rossa, speaking following the vote on the Goldstone Report on war crimes during the Israeli assault on Gaza last year said: “I sponsored this resolution and would urge High Representative Cathy Ashton to immediately undertake to implement the recommendations contained in it.

“Amongst other things today's European Parliament resolution stresses that respect for International Human Rights and Humanitarian law is an essential prerequisite for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; it expresses concern at the pressures being exerted on NGOs by Israeli and Gaza authorities because they cooperated with the Goldstone enquiry; It calls for an unconditional end to the blockade of Gaza and calls for Europe to publicly urge Israel and Palestinians to implementation the Goldstone recommendations.

“The Goldstone Report itself which runs to over 450 pages concludes that the extremely high mortality among civilians including over 300 children arose from an Israeli policy of deliberately using disproportionate force contrary to international law. It also concluded that the siege of Gaza is tantamount to collective punishment of the 1.5m population, contrary to international law. It recommends that the State Parties to the Geneva Conventions (which includes Ireland), should prosecute those responsible for these policies and their implementation.

“I believe that Ireland, which signed up to the Geneva Conventions with it's 1962 Ratification of the Geneva Convention Act, which permits prosecution in Ireland of those in breach of the Conventions, should now activate that Act of the Oireachtas. I am currently preparing a formal complaint to the Garda Siochana based on the findings of the Goldstone Report, to enable the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider the case for prosecutions in Ireland of those responsible.”