Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson Guardian/UK 5 August
2014
‘There is no humane or legal justification for
how the Israeli Defence Force is conducting this war, pulverising with bombs,
missiles and artillery large parts of Gaza, including thousands of homes,
schools and hospitals.’
Israelis and
Palestinians are still burying loved ones killed during Gaza’s third war in six
years. Since 8 July, more than 1,800 Palestinian and 65 Israeli lives have been
sacrificed. Many in the world are heart-broken in the powerless certainty that
and despite the latest ceasefire, it seems that more will could die yet; that
more are being killed every hour. This tragedy results from the deliberate
obstruction of a promising move towards peace, when a reconciliation agreement
among the Palestinian factions was announced in April.
This was a major
concession by Hamas, opening Gaza to joint control under a consensus government
that did not include any Hamas members. The new government also pledged to
adopt the three basic principles demanded by members of the International
Quartet (UN, US, Europe, Russia): non-violence, recognition of Israel, and
adherence to past agreements. Tragically, Israel rejected this opportunity for
peace and has until now succeeded in preventing the new government’s deployment
in Gaza.
Two factors are
necessary to make the unity effort possible: at least a partial lifting of the
seven-year sanctions and blockade that isolate the 1.8 million people in Gaza;
and an opportunity for public sector workers on the Hamas payroll to be paid.
These requirements for a human standard of life continue to be denied. Instead,
Qatar’s offer to provide funds for the payment of employees was blocked by
Israel and access to and from Gaza has been further tightened by Egypt and
Israel.
There is no
humane or legal justification for how the Israeli Defence Force is conducting
this war, pulverising with bombs, missiles and artillery large parts of Gaza,
including thousands of homes, schools and hospitals, displacing families and
killing Palestinian non-combatants. Much of Gaza has lost its access to water
and electricity completely. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.
There is never
an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in conflict. These are war
crimes. This is true for both sides. Hamas’s indiscriminate targeting of
Israeli civilians is equally unacceptable. However, two Israeli civilians and a
foreign worker were killed by Palestinian fire as opposed to an overwhelming
majority of civilians among the Palestinians killed more than 400 of whom were
children. The legal need for international judicial proceedings should be taken
seriously, to investigate and end these violations of international law.
The UN Security
Council should vote a resolution recognising the inhumane conditions in Gaza
and mandate an end to the siege. The resolution could also acknowledge the need
for international monitors who can report on movements to and from Gaza, as well
as ceasefire violations. It should then enshrine strict measures to prevent the
smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Members of the Elders, a group of independent leaders working
together for peace and human rights, hope that these will continue and reach
fruition.
Unity between
Fatah and Hamas is stronger than for many years. We believe this is one of the
most encouraging developments of recent years and welcome it warmly. This
presents an opportunity for the Palestinian Authority to reassume control over
Gaza – an essential first step towards Israel and Egypt’s lifting of the
blockade.
The Palestinian
Authority cannot manage that task on its own. It will need the prompt return of
the EU Border Assistance Mission to cover not just Rafah but all Gaza
crossings. Egypt and Israel would, in turn, cooperate with international
monitors backed by a UN Security Council mandate to protect civilian
populations.
It cannot be
wished away, nor will it cooperate in its own demise. Only by recognising its
legitimacy as a political actor – one that represents a substantial portion of
the Palestinian people – can the west begin to provide the right incentives for
Hamas to lay down its weapons. Ever since the internationally monitored 2006
elections that brought Hamas to power in Palestine, the west’s approach has
manifestly contributed to the opposite result. Ultimately, however, lasting
peace depends on the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel. [Abridged]
• Jimmy Carter
is a former US president. Mary Robinson is a former president of Ireland. Both
are members of The Elders, a group of independent leaders working together
for peace and human rights
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