Written answers

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

5:00 am

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the status of what has been described as the unofficial truce between Israel and Hamas; the prognosis he sees in the region, specifically in Gaza, over the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2887/11]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Since the conclusion of the Gaza conflict in January 2009, the use of military force between Gaza and Israel, in both directions, has considerably abated. Hamas has broadly refrained from rocket or mortar attacks into Israel, and has acted with some degree of success to restrict such attacks by other militant groups in Gaza. Nonetheless, there have been continuing mortar and missile attacks into Israel from Gaza, aimed generally at civilian targets, and Israeli aerial attacks on militants in Gaza or the tunnels used for smuggling, which are described as retaliation. All of these actions are greatly reduced from the period before the conflict, but nonetheless still result in not inconsiderable death and injury, as well as potentially inflaming the situation once again.

The Government has called many times, as has the EU, for such completely unjustified missile attacks into Israel to halt. It is reliably reported in recent weeks that Hamas has now concluded a formal ceasefire agreement with most of the other militant groups in Gaza, to bring about an end to these missile attacks, and thus avoid provoking Israeli retaliation. This is a very positive and long overdue development, and I hope very strongly that it can be maintained as a reality on the ground. Both Israelis and Palestinians are entitled to live free of the fear of attack.

There remain other areas of concern in relation to military activity, notably the arbitrary restriction by Israel of the operations of Gazan fishing boats, and the maintenance by Israel of a 500 metre free fire zone on the approaches to its border fence from inside Gaza, which it is reported may be extended to 1 km. Many inhabitants of Gaza continue to be killed or injured by Israeli forces for entering this zone, and while some are undoubtedly militants seeking to attack the border, many others are farmers or civilians seeking to work their land or recover scrap materials. Almost 20% of the cultivatable land of Gaza lies in this zone.

Nonetheless, this strengthening of the tacit ceasefire could lead in due course to a wider amelioration of the situation in Gaza. I would hope that it might create conditions which could lead to the long discussed prisoner release agreement, and the long overdue release of Sergeant Shalit, now in his fifth year of unwarranted captivity in Gaza. I would also hope that an easing of tension might help advance the issue of Palestinian reconciliation, which would strengthen President Abbas as he works to achieve a comprehensive negotiated settlement, while also encouraging Hamas to follow a more political approach.

Side by side with these issues is our overarching concern with the continuing Israeli blockade of Gaza, which continues to dominate and negatively impact on the lives of the people of Gaza. Recent measures to ease the blockade have, so far, proved inadequate and we need to see much greater action from Israel and more quickly, if conditions in Gaza are to be genuinely improved. This is a process we are watching closely in the EU.

Finally, in dealing with the prospects for Gaza, I would take this opportunity to again pay tribute here in the Dáil to the work of John Ging in Gaza over the last five years, as he moves on to greater and well deserved responsibilities in the UN system. For the outlook in the region more generally, I refer the deputy to my reply to Priority Question No 5 today.

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