MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Gaza strip
17.4.2018 - (2018/2663(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Hilde Vautmans, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Gérard Deprez, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Patricia Lalonde, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Marietje Schaake on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0191/2018
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East peace process,
‒ having regard to previous Council conclusions on the Middle East peace process,
‒ having regard to the relevant UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions,
‒ having regard to the relevant statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission,
‒ having regard to the Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, regarding the worsening situation in Gaza,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas since Friday, 30 March 2018, protestations of Palestinians, known as the March of Return, have spread across the Gaza Strip, and in particular gathering thousands of people at Israel’s borders fence to demand the end of the closure and re-affirming the right of return; whereas the terrorist organization Hamas has meanwhile assumed leadership in the organisation and financing of the march;
B. whereas the Israeli authorities reported that stones and firebombs were thrown against their defence forces and that some protestors attempted to damage and cross the fence into Israel;
C. whereas, in reaction to this situation, the Israeli Defence Forces, used lethal force that resulted in the killing of at least 26 Palestinians and hundreds of wounded protestors;
D. whereas the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials of 1990 allows the intentional lethal use of firearms only in the circumstances provided for under its paragraph 9;
E. whereas the demonstrations in the Gaza Strip are planned to continue until 15 May 2018;
1. Calls on all parties for utmost restraint and underlines that the EU top priority is to avoid any further escalation of violence and loss of life;
2. Urges the Israel defence forces to refrain from using lethal force against unarmed protestors, including children, women, journalists and medics;
3. Expresses equal concern about the fact that Hamas seems to aim at escalating the tensions during the March;
4.notes that Israel is conducting an investigation into the use of live ammunition, according to international law and practices; Supports the statements by the High Representative of the Union and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, several United Nations human rights experts, and the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for accountability through for an independent and transparent investigation into the use of live ammunition. Notes the statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reminding that violence against civilians - in a situation such as the one prevailing in Gaza – could constitute crimes under the Rome Statute of the ICC, as could the use of civilian presence for the purpose of shielding military activities;
5. Strongly condemns the continuous tactic of Hamas to use civilians for the purpose of shielding terrorist activities; reiterates that civilians, particularly children, must not be intentionally put in danger or targeted in any way;
6.Re-affirms that Israel has the right to protect its borders and defend its legitimate security interest, but underlines that the principle of proportionality in the use of force, the freedom of expression, assembly and association must also be respected;
7.Strongly condemns Hamas' continuous terror attacks against Israel from Gaza, including rocket attacks, infiltrations to Israel and building terror tunnels;
8. Underlines that these recent events have shown again that the lack of political process is not an option;
9. Calls for an immediate and unconditional end of the blockade and closure of the Gaza Strip, which is resulting in a deterioration of an unprecedented humanitarian situation in Gaza, where 1.3 million of 1.9 million inhabitants are refugees;
10.Stresses that intra-Palestinian reconciliation is an important element for reaching the two-state solution and deplores continued Palestinian disunity; calls on the Palestinian factions to make reconciliation and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip a top priority; urges Palestinian forces to resume efforts towards reconciliation without delay, notably through the holding of the long-overdue presidential and legislative elections. Deplores the fact that Gaza Strip is administrated by Hamas and emphasises that the Palestinian Authority must assume its government function in the Gaza Strip, including in the fields of security and civil administration and through its presence at the crossing points; continues to call for the disarmament of all terrorist groups in Gaza;
11. Reiterates that the EU’s main objective is to achieve the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, with the secure State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the right of self-determination and full respect for international law;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, 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.