Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

635. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the 2016 report of a group (details supplied) which states that 97 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The group in question is supported by funding from my Department, and their work naturally helps inform our views. I have not yet seen the report in question as it is not yet available in English.

The statistics for the 2015/16 period are deeply concerning, although it should be recognised that a number of these fatalities relate to the wave of attacks by individual Palestinians which extended well into 2016. All of the deaths in these events were a tragedy.

Nonetheless, Ireland had even before this point expressed our concerns at the increasingly routine use of force, including lethal force, by Israeli security forces in the occupied Palestinian Territory, in circumstances which cannot be considered life threatening. It is evident that different standards are applied governing the use of force involving Israelis and Palestinians.

This is yet another reason why the ongoing military occupation of one people by another is unacceptable, and ultimately brutalising to both sides. It is for this reason that Ireland continues to accord a high priority to trying to end this conflict.