Foreign ministers call on Israel to allow in more aid

EUROPEAN foreign ministers have called on Israel to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza but fell well short of supporting Ireland’s call for a full investigation of the war.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana is heading to the region to help with a peace initiative devised by Egypt and will meet the newly appointed US envoy George Mitchell.

The union’s development commissioner Louis Michel, caused consternation in some quarters when he held Hamas responsible for the 1,300 civilian casualties in Gaza. He was one of the first foreign dignitaries to visit Gaza and witness the devastation. He announced a €58 million emergency aid package for the Palestinians in addition to the €3m announced last month for Gaza.

The EU is the largest donor to the bankrupt strip, keeping schools, hospitals and essential infrastructure running.

But Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said several countries had questioned the EU’s continuous rebuilding of infrastructure in Gaza only for it to be bombed again in Israeli attacks.

However, he said all 27 member states were agreed on the absolute necessity to open the crossings into Gaza to give unimpeded regular access.

“A week since the conflict ended, there are only 123 trucks a day going through, while 800 need to get through,” he said.

Ireland and Belgium asked for a full investigation into some of the most serious incidents that would result in those responsible being held to account, especially into incidents like the bombing of UN stores and schools.

Mr Martin said an independent and objective investigation was needed into the circumstances as the shelling of a small area with one and a half million people. “There were far too many children and women and innocent civilians killed,” he said.

He added that the strategic value of Israel’s defence of its people against rocket launches from Gaza was in question since Hamas had not been finished, there was a danger that they were more radical now and a lasting peace and agreement on a two-state solution appeared to be no nearer.

For these reasons it was now very important to create conditions on the ground to move towards a permanent ceasefire and peace agreement, and this would be helped by opening the crossings and getting the necessary aid in.

Mr Martin received little support for his call and instead the ministers issued a statement saying it reminded all parties to the conflict to fully respect human rights and comply with international humanitarian law.

They added that they would follow closely investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law and noted the statement by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

While initially the UN chief during a visit to Gaza last week had called for an investigation especially into the bombing of UN buildings this was changed when he returned to New York to say that Israel should investigate in the first place.