Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call on the UN Security Council to launch an immediate, independent and properly resourced inquiry into the recent conflict in Gaza. [6064/09]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to ensure that an independent and impartial investigation takes place of abuses of international rights and humanitarian law in the recent Israeli-Palestian conflict in the Gaza Strip. [6099/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.

The recent conflict in Gaza witnessed a number of appalling incidents and alleged violations of international humanitarian law by both parties. I have called on several occasions — including at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels on 26 January — for these incidents to be fully investigated and, where evidence of violations of international humanitarian law is adduced, for those responsible be held to account.

I note that the Israeli Government is investigating the very serious allegations against its Defence Forces. At a minimum, these investigations require the involvement of independent international experts if they are to have any credibility. No investigation needs to be conducted to prove that Hamas, in its indiscriminate shelling of southern Israel, has violated international law.

It remains desirable that there should also be an international investigation into some of the most serious incidents of the Gaza conflict, as this represents the most effective way to ensure impartiality and transparency. To this end, I very much welcome the decision of UN Secretary General Ban to appoint a Panel of Investigators to examine certain incidents that occurred in Gaza during the recent conflict, and to report back to the Security Council. Although the Terms of Reference for this Panel are not as yet available, it would appear that the investigators will focus on the three separate attacks on UN facilities (the shelling of areas adjacent to two UN schools on 6 January and of UNRWA HQ on 15 January) and, in this context, the killing and injuring of civilians.