Stop the slaughter in Gaza

By Carál Ní Chuilín
As I write this piece my thoughts are with the besieged people of Gaza. The attacks on them and the people of the Palestinian territories are totally and absolutely wrong. More than 600 people, more than 200 of them children, have been killed and 2,800 wounded since the Israeli army launched its air, sea and missile attacks on Gaza eleven days ago.
After almost a week of aerial bombardment the Israelis have now also sent in heavily-armoured tanks, artillery and soldiers to attack densely populated cities from the ground as well.
More than 75 people were killed on one day, Tuesday, many of them children at the al-Fakhura school situated in a refugee camp.
Of the 600 deaths since the massive Israeli bombardment began all but ten victims have been Palestinians, the vast majority of them civilians.
All the civilian deaths in Gaza, including those seeking shelter in a UN school are indefensible and unjustifiable.
The UN has also advised that there is now a growing shortage of basic foodstuffs and fresh water in Gaza because of the damage to the local infrastructure.
Hospitals too are struggling to cope with the massive casualties and there is also a shortage of medicines as the Israelis continue to tighten their blockade of Palestinian towns and cities
The humanitarian cost of the offensive to date has been catastrophic and decisive action is needed now to secure a ceasefire.
It is Sinn Féin's view that the International community cannot allow the situation in Gaza to deteriorate any further.
The International community, including the Irish Government, the EU and the USA, has to intensify its efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza.
There should be an end to all military activity in Gaza from both sides of the conflict but let's be clear - what is happening in Gaza is the slaughter of Palestinian people by an aggressive Israeli regime with high schools and crèches among the buildings targeted.
Innocent children have been killed and maimed and will continue to be targeted unless Israel calls a ceasefire.
All international diplomatic efforts must be focused on persuading the Israeli government to cease its operations in Gaza and end hostilities.
However, tough words alone will not move the Israeli government.
It is clear that the Israeli government is not listening.
The timing of the current Israeli offensive was as calculated as every other aspect of these operations. __
is no accident that these attacks occurred in the last weeks of the Bush presidency.
The Israeli assertion that its operations are in response to Hamas’ rocket attacks is threadbare. The rocket attacks should cease.
However, the timing of their current offensive is directly linked to Barack Obama’s move into the White House on January 20. It comes after a lengthy embargo on Gaza and the closing of border crossing.
Those responsible seem to be about making sure that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is the new US President’s first foreign policy test.
The Israeli government has also rather cynically chosen to act just before that state is due to go to the polls._
My party colleagues Sinn Féin MEPs Bairbre de Brún and Mary Lou McDonald are calling for a suspension of the European-Mediterranean Association Agreement, which underpins preferential trade with Israel as a way of forcing Israel's hand and bring about a ceasefire and an end to the killing.
The Irish Government has a role to play here and should push this approach at EU level.
I would urge all international leaders to consider this approach and others to bring about an end to the killings in Gaza and to prevent a ground offensive from Israel.
World peace and stability is in the interests and responsibilities of all sovereign nations and that includes peace in the Middle East.
What is required is of course security for Israel and a free Palestinian state but the days of Israel using the excuse of security to slaughter innocent Palestinians must be brought to an end.
Otherwise we will see a continued cycle of conflict, death and destruction in the region.
The Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign has organised a demonstration against the invasion of Gaza for this Saturday assembling at the Art College Square at 12.30pm to march to City Hall.
Come along to add your voice to the thousands all over Europe and the Middle East who are calling for an end to the slaughter in Gaza.