Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together.

The war in Gaza, arising from the launch of Operation Cast Lead by Israel on 27 December 2008, was a profound tragedy for the people of Gaza and for the region. I welcome that the unilateral ceasefires announced by Israel and Hamas on 18 January continue to hold. The costs of the war have been stark — 1,300 Palestinian dead and over 5,500 severely injured, with more than 40% of the victims women and children. Much of Gaza lies in ruins, with extensive destruction to homes and public infrastructure and utilities throughout the territory.

The immediate imperatives are the delivery of humanitarian relief to the population of Gaza and the consolidation of the current fragile cessation into a durable truce through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860. Following the halt in rockets launched into Israel and the withdrawal on 21 January of Israeli troops from Gaza, the crossings into Gaza must to be reopened and a mechanism developed to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza.

The conflict witnessed a number of appalling incidents and alleged violations of international humanitarian law by both parties. I have already made clear that I agree with and fully support the call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for these incidents to be fully investigated and, where evidence of violations of international humanitarian law is adduced, those responsible should be held to account.

I believe that there is a case for an independent international investigation and I made clear my position to EU Foreign Ministers on Monday last. Among the incidents which require to be properly investigated are the shelling of UN schools and facilities, with attendant heavy civilian casualties, including children; attacks on humanitarian convoys and the deaths of humanitarian and medical personnel; reports of the parties using civilians as human shields; and the use of white phosphorous by the Israeli military. I note that the Israeli Government is to set up an investigation into allegations against its defence forces. At a minimum such an investigation would require the involvement of independent international experts if it were to have any credibility. No investigation needs to be conducted to prove that Hamas, in its indiscriminate shelling of southern Israel, violated international law.

Looking forward, and in order to move away from the grim cycle of violence which has too often characterised the region, the search for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East must be the diplomatic priority for the international community. In general, the US has endeavoured to play a constructive role in supporting the efforts of the parties to reach a settlement. At the same time, the nature of American support for Israel has, at times, impacted upon the perception, and arguably the reality, of the role of the US as a neutral or honest broker. However, the US remains an indispensable partner for peace in the Middle East.

I am very much encouraged therefore that President Obama has promised that his Administration will "actively and aggressively" pursue Middle East peace and that he will invest time, political capital and finance in the effort. I also warmly welcomed the appointment of Senator George Mitchell, a true friend of Ireland and a masterful mediator, as an inspired choice to serve as President Obama's Middle East envoy. Ireland and our EU partners look forward to working closely together with Secretary of State Clinton and Senator Mitchell in a renewed transatlantic effort to promote what Europe and America recognise as the strategic priority of a comprehensive Middle East peace settlement.

Following this crisis in Gaza, it is more critical than ever that the Palestinian and Israeli people can have faith in a revived and credible political process that is seen to be addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, ending the occupation and leading to a two-state solution. However, no comprehensive peace is possible without intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the political reunification of Gaza and the West Bank, and I support the efforts of Egypt and other regional actors to promote such reconciliation.

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