Admissions by Israeli commanders build case for independent inquiry on Gaza - Liz Lynne MEP

2.57.58pm GMT Thu 4th Feb 2010

Senior Israeli commanders have admitted that rules of engagement were changed in the Gaza assault

Recent admissions by Israeli commanders that they fired phosphorus shells and put civilians at risk in Gaza strengthens the case for an independent inquiry, says Euro MP Liz Lynne.

The Liberal Democrat MEP's comments came after Israel admitted that two senior officers had been 'disciplined' for firing phosphorus shells which burned down the UN compound in the territory during the devastating attack by Israeli forces last year.

Yesterday's Independent newspaper also carried details of interviews by an Israeli journalist with officers who admitted that the normal rules of engagement were radically changed during the conflict, which killed over 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians including 330 children. 13 Israelis were killed.

A long time campaigner on human rights issues, the Euro MP for the West Midlands region is a member of the Delegation for Relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council in the European Parliament.

Liz Lynne said: "These revelations show that very serious breaches of normal rules of war to protect civilians occurred during the ferocious assault on Gaza.

"We already knew from countless television pictures that illegal phosphorus shells were used, but it is not something that the Israeli government can claim was a limited transgression by one or two commanders.

"More serious are the revelations in unpublished interviews with soldiers conducted by a journalist from a leading Israeli newspaper. It seems clear that the rules of engagement were changed to a policy of shoot first and ask questions afterwards, or not at all.

"The only way the peace process in Palestine and Israel can be restarted is for a full and independent inquiry to be held, as the United Nations has demanded."

Liz Lynne has repeatedly called for an end to the Gaza blockade and the disproportionate use of violence by Israeli troops against Palestinians. She has also condemned the firing of rockets on Israeli civilians from inside Gaza and urged Hamas to renounce violence.

Liz Lynne said: "The continued injustice in Israel and the plight of the Palestinians is a touchstone issue across the world. It is used by international terrorists as an excuse for their crimes.

"These latest revelations should encourage European Union countries and the Obama administration to step up pressure on Israel to start honouring their obligations under international law.

"Gaza must be repaired and rebuilt and allegations of war crimes must be independently investigated.

"We have to encourage both communities to live together and respect each other's rights to a peaceful existence."

"Renewed trade co-operation between the EU and Israel will be impossible until action is taken.

ENDS

Note to editors:

The EU-Israel Association Agreement is a commitment to establishing a partnership between the EU and Israel for close political, trade and investment relations together with economic, social, financial, civil scientific, technological and cultural cooperation. Israel has applied to upgrade and extend this Agreement, but negotiations were postponed following the invasion of Gaza in December 2008.

In 2008, Liz Lynne MEP co-authored a Written Declaration in the European Parliament on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2008-0047+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN