MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

12.1.2009

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the situation in the Gaza Strip

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0051/2009

B6‑0058/2009

European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Gaza Strip

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East, in particular those of 16 November 2006 on the situation in the Gaza Strip, 12 July 2007 on the Middle East, 11 October 2007 on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and 21 February 2008 on the situation in the Gaza Strip,

–  having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1860 of 8 January 2009,

–  having regard to the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949),

–  having regard to the European Union statement of 30 December 2008 on the situation in the placeMiddle East,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas, on 27 December 2008, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, named 'Operation Cast Lead', in response to the renewed rockets attacks against civilian targets since Hamas took control of the Strip and following the breakdown of the ceasefire,

B.  whereas the population in placeCityGaza has suffered an Israeli blockade of movement of people and goods, including most medicines, food and fuel, since 2006,

C.  whereas, according to the latest reports, the Israeli operation has so far killed about one thousand people in Gaza, including hundreds of women and children, causing thousands of casualties, destruction of houses, schools and other important civilian infrastructure,

D.  whereas the policy of isolation of the Gaza Strip has failed both at the political and the humanitarian level; whereas the embargo on the Gaza Strip represents a collective punishment in contravention of international humanitarian law,

E.  whereas the European Union's considerable financial support to the Palestinians has played an important role in avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank; whereas the European Union continues to provide, in particular through UNWRA, humanitarian assistance to the people and direct subsidies to employees of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip, through the EU's PEGASE financing mechanism and other international assistance for the Palestinian Territories,

1.  Welcomes the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 of 8 January 2009 and regrets that so far both Israel and Hamas have failed to meet the UN request for a stop to the hostilities; urges Israel and Hamas, therefore, to proceed to an immediate ceasefire, including refraining from any rocket attacks against Israel, and calls on Israel to immediately withdraw its troops from Gaza;

2.  Is convinced that there is no military solution to the crisis and warns that the prolongation of the operation can only aggravate the severe suffering of the civilian population and deepen the insecurity of the region;

3.  Expresses its shock at the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza, due to a disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army; condemns, in particular, the fact that civilian and UN targets have been hit during the attacks and expresses its sympathy for the civilian population affected by the violence in Gaza and in Southern Israel;

4.  Believes that, by continuing to provoke country-regionIsraelplace through the launching of rockets against civilian targets, the Hamas leadership is also responsible for the tragic fate of the civilian population of CityGaza;

5.  Calls on the Council to increase its pressure in order to halt the ongoing violence, encourages the diplomatic efforts so far undertaken by the international community, including Egypt and France, and calls for a negotiated truce that should be guaranteed by a mechanism, to be set up by the international community, which could include the dispatching of a multinational force;

6.  Calls for the holding of an international conference, promoted by the Quartet and with the participation of all regional actors, on the basis of the previous agreement reached between Israelis and Palestinians and the Arab League initiative,

7.  Calls on Israel to stop violating its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law; calls on Hamas to end rocket attacks and to take its own responsibilities by committing itself to a political process aimed at restoring inter-Palestinian dialogue and at contributing to the ongoing process of negotiations;

8.  Strongly requests the Israeli authorities to allow food, urgent medical aid and fuel to be delivered to the Gaza Strip through the opening of the crossing point and the lifting of the blockade; urges the Israeli authorities to allow the international press to be able to follow events on the ground;

9.  Agrees on the necessity of urgently providing, as demanded by UNSC Resolution 1860, arrangements and guarantees in Gaza in order to sustain a durable ceasefire, including to ensure the sustained re-opening of the crossing points and to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition;

10.  Calls on the Council and the Commission and other international donors, in cooperation with the United Nations and NGOs, to provide adequate aid with a view to the necessary gradual resumption of basic economic recovery in the Strip and to the restoration of decent living conditions for Palestinians, in particular young people;

11.  Stresses that any upgrading of political relations between the EU and Israel must be conditioned on respect for international humanitarian law, a real commitment to a comprehensive peace settlement, the end of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and respect for full implementation of the EC-PLO Interim Association Agreement; considers that assent cannot be granted as long as the situation remains so critical;

12.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the President of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Israeli Government, the Knesset, and the Egyptian Government and Parliament.