Minister for Foreign Affairs Condemns Latest Atrocity in the Gaza Conflict

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, has today issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli air and artillery strikes on two United Nations-run schools in the Gaza strip which resulted in at least forty people killed, including a number of children.

“I am appalled by these indiscriminate attacks by Israeli forces which has resulted in so many civilian fatalities, including of children, who were simply sheltering from the conflict taking place around them. The death and suffering, as well as the humanitarian deprivation, now being inflicted on the people of Gaza as a result of the continuation of the Israeli Operation Cast Lead cannot be justified in any way and must now be brought to an immediate end.”

“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the United Nations staff involved. I know from my continuing contacts with UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) and its Irish Field Director, John Ging, to whom I have spoken today, of the incredibly difficult environment in which humanitarian organisations are now forced to act and of their very real fears that a major humanitarian catastrophe will unfold in Gaza if the current violence does not end soon.”

“I again would like to make the strongest appeal for an immediate cessation of all violence in and from Gaza and for the putting in place of an effective and sustainable ceasefire and the facilitation of urgent humanitarian access. The international community must re-double its efforts to halt the carnage now taking place in Gaza. Ireland will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to achieve the earliest diplomatic resolution of this crisis.”

Ends+++
6th January 2009
Press Office