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
Charles Tannock, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Ryszard Czarnecki on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0522/2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights and democracy in Israel and Palestine,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
– having regard to the Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process of 8 December 2009, 13 December 2010, and 18 July 2011,
– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,
– having regard to the relevant UN resolutions, in particular General Assembly resolutions 181 (1947) and 194 (1948), and Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008),
– having regard to the Middle East Quartet statements, in particular that of 23 September 2011,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 14 November 2012 Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defence began with an air strike, launched from Gaza, that killed the commander of Hamas’s military wing, Ahmed Jabari, who stood accused of a huge number of terrorist activities against Israel;
B. whereas Operation Pillar of Defence was Israel’s response to previous rocket attacks into southern Israel, carried out by the Palestinian militant groups;
C. whereas Israeli air strikes have been surgically targeted on rocket-storage sites and Hamas facilities; whereas the long-range rockets used by Hamas have been supplied by Iran;
D. whereas more than 1 000 rockets have been fired towards Israel since 10 November, with some of them landing near Tel Aviv – the first direct attack against the city in 20 years – and in Jerusalem; whereas Hamas militants make no distinction between civilian and military targets;
E. whereas at least 95 Palestinians and three Israelis have died in six days of violence, the latest fatalities including a militant group commander;
F. whereas the Israeli authorities have been working to ensure that food, medicine and other necessary goods are reaching the Palestinians through the Kerem Shalom crossing throughout the conflict period;
1. Stresses the right of Israel to self-defence and to protect Israeli citizens from rockets and mortars fired by militants in Gaza;
2. Strongly condemns the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, which are aimed at the civilian population, and calls for an immediate cessation of such acts; deplores the use of civilian-populated areas within Gaza as rocket launch sites and ‘human shields’, which constitutes a war crime under international law; calls on both sides to show maximum restraint and full respect for their international obligations;
3. Deeply regrets the deaths of all citizens on both sides, Palestinian and Israeli, particularly those vulnerable individuals who have been most affected by the violence, including the elderly and children; calls on both sides to ensure the protection of civilians;
4. Notes that a number of prominent world leaders have come out in support of the Israeli action and reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself against daily attacks from Hamas in Gaza;
4. Calls on Israel to hold diplomatic talks with the wider Arab community in order to improve security in the region, acknowledging that Hamas leaders are mainly based outside of Gaza;
5. Supports the efforts of the international actors mediating a rapid ceasefire, and welcomes the mission of the United Nations Secretary-General to the region;
6. Reiterates, in this connection, its support for a two-state solution, agreed on and honoured by the Israelis and the Palestinians and based on the 1967 borders, with agreed land-for-peace swaps, with a viable Palestinian state, which includes both the West Bank and Gaza, and the Israeli state living both in peace and in security; recalls that this should be achieved through direct negotiations under the aegis of the UN Quartet and not through unilateral steps;
7. 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 governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President of the UN General Assembly, the governments and parliaments of members of the UN Security Council, the Middle East Quartet Envoy, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.