Brussels, 31/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The attack on Monday morning by the Israeli army on the international peace flotilla which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza (see EUROPE 10147) has brought unanimous condemnation in the EU, along with calls for the unconditional lifting of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and for an immediate investigation (though proposed arrangements still vary). For the moment, it is in the European Parliament that there have been calls for an international inquiry.
Speaking in Warsaw on Monday, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a press conference that she had spoken to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to express “our deepest concern about the tragedy” and call for “an immediate inquiry into the circumstances” surrounding the attack. She also stated the “importance of opening the crossings for humanitarian aid to go through, to ensure that ordinary people have a better existence” than that which she saw when she visited Gaza.
Ashton also offered her condolences to the families of the victims and stated that coordination would continue with EU ambassadors throughout the day. Several member states have already recalled their ambassadors.
In a press release published on Monday morning, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek expressed his outrage. “Despite repeated calls for all involved to act with restraint and responsibility, the interception of the convoy in international waters has resulted in many casualties. This is an unjustified attack, which has claimed at least a dozen lives,” he said. Expressing his condolences to the families of the victims, Buzek added, “It is a clear and unacceptable breach of international law, especially the fourth Geneva Convention. We demand that Israel explains its actions immediately, with the utmost transparency, and guarantees full accountability by co-operating with any full inquiry that is to be set up. The European Parliament also urges High Representative Ashton to take steps within the Quartet to force Israel to lift the siege on the people of Gaza immediately and unconditionally”.
During a press conference in the European Parliament on Monday 31 May, Véronique de Keyser (S&D, Belgium), returning from a Parliamentary mission to Gaza, one of the tasks of which was to assess the scale of the consequences of the blockade, went further in calling for the EU, not just to ask for, but to “bring about the end of the blockade by whatever means necessary”. She denounced Israel's disproportionate action, stated that “here a red line has been crossed” and said she feared a “logic of concerted escalation” threatening the peace process. She added, “We want an independent international inquiry. We want results from EU ambassadors, using all available means, including sanctions, if necessary”. She argued that “an investigation by Israel is not enough”.
Two Belgian nationals - Asma El Mourabiti, the sister of one of the victims, Fatima El Mourabiti, and Julie Jarozewski - who were taking part in the humanitarian project, but who left the flotilla in Antalya, Turkey, because they were fearful of the danger, said that the media and politicians had not given enough support or protection. Jarozewski denied that there were any Palestinian activists aboard. “It was only humanitarian aid,” she insisted.
Louis Michel (ALDE, Belgium) hammered the nail home: “A commission of inquiry must be international and independent. The European Parliament can bring substantial pressure to bear as long as there is strong general agreement, but you will not stop the European Council continuing to play double standards”.
In a press release, EPP Group President Joseph Daul and Vice-President Ionnis Kasoulides condemned the shocking tragedy of the deaths of civilians and called for an international commission of inquiry objectively to investigate the circumstances of the whole incident. The Greens/EFA were horrified to learn of the deaths. Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms wrote to High Representative Catherine Ashton to call for an international inquiry to be set up swiftly, and for full support to be given to those who were on board the vessels. They called, too, for the necessary steps to be taken to completely and unconditionally lift the blockade of Gaza. The GUE/NGL Group strongly condemned the “unacceptable practices” against vessels manned by unarmed civilians and called for the EU to “respond immediately to such impunity”. They called for “the immediate suspension of the association agreement with Israel and a debate at Parliament's next session with High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Ms Ashton”. (A.N./transl.tfl)