MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Gaza
20.11.2012 - (2012/2883(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Véronique De Keyser, Pino Arlacchi, Emine Bozkurt, Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Emer Costello, Ana Gomes, Richard Howitt, Emilio Menéndez del Valle, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Norbert Neuser, Boris Zala on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0522/2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Gaza Strip, in particular those of 11 October 2007 on the humanitarian situation in Gaza[1], of 21 February 2008 on the situation in the Gaza Strip[2], of 15 January 2009 on the situation in the Gaza Strip[3], of 18 February 2009 on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip[4], of 17 June 2010 on the Israeli military operation against the humanitarian flotilla and the Gaza blockade[5] and of 29 September 2011 on the situation in Palestine[6],
– having regard to the Council conclusions on Gaza of 19 November 2012,
– having regard to the statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton of 16 November 2012 on the further escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza,
– having regard to the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of 16 November 2012 on the violence in Gaza and Israel,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the firing of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other armed groups, on the one hand, and extrajudicial targeted killings by the Israeli army, on the other, have resulted in a new cycle and spiral of violence in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip;
B. whereas, according to Palestinian officials, 104 people have died, including many children, and 860 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli army started Operation Pillar of Defence in the area; whereas, according to Israeli officials, three people have died and 68 have been wounded in Israel as a result of the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip over the past weeks;
C. whereas, according to UNRWA, Israeli airstrikes are targeting leaders of militant groups, infrastructure and security apparatus, but increasingly residential buildings as well, in the Gaza Strip, leading to a significant increase in civilian casualties; whereas rockets fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip are deliberately targeting the civilian population;
D. whereas civilians in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip are once again becoming victims and hostages of politically driven violence, and whereas this is unacceptable;
E. whereas a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip and the further escalation of the current crisis would only bring more suffering to both Palestinians and Israelis;
F. whereas Palestinian communitiess living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are parts of the same Palestinian people living in the occupied Palestinian Territory;
G. whereas the border crossings in and out of the Gaza Strip have been closed since June 2007; whereas the blockade of the Gaza Strip represents collective punishment of the population, in contravention of international humanitarian law; whereas rockets continue to be fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip;
H. whereas, in its conclusions of 14 May 2012, the Council declared that ‘fully recognising Israel’s legitimate security needs, the EU continues to call for the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from the Gaza Strip, the situation of which is unsustainable as long as it remains politically separated from the West Bank’ and that ‘despite limited progress, the EU urges the government of Israel to take further meaningful and far‑reaching steps allowing for the reconstruction and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip, including by allowing trade with the West Bank and Israel‘;
I. whereas the right of Palestinians to self-determination and to have their own state is unquestionable, as is the right of Israel to exist within safe borders; whereas, in its resolution of 29 September 2011 on the situation in Palestine, Parliament supported and called on Member States to be united in addressing the legitimate demand of the Palestinians to be represented as a state at the United Nations; whereas, in its same resolution, it called on the international community, including the EU and its Member States, to reconfirm its strong commitment to the security of the State of Israel;
1. Expresses its deepest concern about the renewed violence in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and its condolences and sympathy to the families of killed and wounded civilians, including many women and children;
2. Calls for a ceasefire and an immediate end to all acts of violence which threaten innocent civilian lives, including the firing of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other armed groups as well as targeted assassinations, airstrikes and naval shelling in this area by the Israeli army;
3. While recognising the right of Israel to defend its population against rockets fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip, warns against a ground invasion in the area by the Israeli army, which may lead to considerable further escalation of the conflict and its humanitarian consequences, and calls on Israel to show restraint, ensure that its response is proportionate, act in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law, and protect the Palestinian civilian population under all circumstances;
4. Supports the efforts of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Egypt and other international actors aimed at mediating a ceasefire and finding a sustainable solution to the current crisis, and encourages them to continue on this path; commends the work of UNRWA and other organisations delivering basic services to the population in the Gaza Strip;
5. Reiterates again its strong support for the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital of both states, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security;
6. Stresses again that peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a sustainable solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians; continues to support, in this context, the policy of non-violent resistance of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his initiatives taken in this spirit, including his request to the UN General Assembly to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state;
7. Continues to call for Palestinian reconciliation, which is the way to re-unite Palestinian communities living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, who are parts of the same Palestinian people living in the occupied Palestinian Territory;
8. Calls again for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip; calls, in particular, for the sustainable opening of all the crossing points to and from this area, including the port of Gaza, to allow a continuous flow of humanitarian aid, including all materials needed for UNRWA and other UN and international agencies to perform their duties, as well as for the economic and social rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip, which is essential for sustainable peace and security in the region; calls, at the same time, for the prevention of the smuggling of rockets and other military equipment into the Gaza Strip;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative to the Middle East Peace Process, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council, and the parliament and government of Egypt.