Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts made to help stop the Israeli bombardment of Gaza; if his attention has been drawn to the murder of innocent children and adults in Gaza during these bombardments; if the Israeli ambassador has been summoned regarding the issue; his future plans on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32361/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions on this issue on Tuesday and Wednesday, and my address in a Topical Issues debate in the House yesterday afternoon. The Government has issued two public statements clearly deploring the upsurge of violence, calling for an end to firing by both sides, and a return to the truce which had previously been observed. These views have also been conveyed directly to the Israeli and Palestinian Ambassadors. At EU level, High Representative Ashton has made similar calls on behalf of the European Union, as have other EU partners. Further to those replies, the EU Heads of State and Government meeting in Brussels yesterday issued the following statement in relation to the situation in Gaza:

"The European Council is following with great concern the continued violence in Israel and Gaza. The European Council condemns the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians. Israel has the right to protect its population from this kind of attacks. In doing so, it must act proportionately and ensure the protection of civilians at all times. It deeply deplores the loss of innocent lives and the high number of wounded civilians in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli military operations and is deeply concerned about the rapid and dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation. The European Council calls on both sides to de-escalate the situation, to end the violence, to end the suffering of the civilian populations notably by allowing access to humanitarian assistance, and return to calm. The European Council welcomes on-going efforts by regional partners, and in particular the initiative launched by Egypt, to establish a cease-fire and calls on Hamas to agree on such cease-fire. The European Union stands ready to provide the necessary support to this end. The European Union continues to call for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009).

The tragic events of the past days highlight the urgent need for all parties to work towards a resumption of the diplomatic process and to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European Union reiterates its offer to both parties of a package of European political and economic support and of a Special Privileged Partnership with the European Union in the event of a final peace agreement.

Israelis and Palestinians need to make the strategic choice of peace in order to allow their future generations to live lives freed from past conflicts and to enjoy the stability, security and prosperity which they are currently being denied."

Finally, this issue will be further discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council next week, on 22 July, which I will attend.