Gaza hospital explosion should be ‘investigated as a war crime’ - Michael D Higgins

An explosion at a hospital in Gaza “must be investigated, certainly, as a war crime”, President Michael D Higgins has said.

“It’s very, very important that there will be a reliable investigation as to how it came to be, who was responsible, what the consequences are,” Mr Higgins told reporters in Rome, noting that there were “contesting versions” of what had happened on Tuesday.

“The facts are that people have lost their lives, that people have been killed... It must be investigated, certainly, as a war crime.”

Israel has blamed the hospital explosion on a failed rocket launch by Gaza-based militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but Hamas has accused Israel of being responsible.

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The high death toll from the incident at the Ahli Arab Hospital, estimated at more than 470 people, and graphic images of civilian victims, have had profound diplomatic consequences in the region, with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the leadership of Jordan cancelling plans to meet US president Joe Biden for talks while he is in the region.

Speaking in Rome, where he was attending the World Food Forum, Mr Higgins reiterated his “revulsion” over an attack by Hamas last week that killed more than 1,400 people, but said this did not mean there should not be condemnation of the civilian toll caused by Israel’s response.

“We’re not asked to choose and say that we must exclusively concentrate on that particular horror, and at the same time set aside our concerns as what are the pre-announced, delivered breaches of international law that are involved when you remove water, when you remove medical aid, when you remove food itself from civilian populations.”

Having suffered at the hands of Hamas does not confer impunity on Israel, he added.

“If you have been at the receiving end, as indeed Israel has, of a horrific attack, does it confer an impunity on you in relation to law? Of course that does not,” he told reporters.

“The announcement in advance there was to be no restraints – I cannot understand how the advocacy of ‘no restraint’ isn’t, in fact, an encouragement to become involved in what ultimately might be a war crime.

“People who are friends of Israel, and friends of the many people in Israel who will not want to be guilty of an impunity in relation to punishing a civilian population... they will agree with that.”

Meanwhile, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the Government will be “very cautious” before apportioning blame for the Gaza hospital strike.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Mr Martin said he “condemned unreservedly” what had happened. He noted that Mr Biden had blamed Hamas for the catastrophe.

“He may have more access to more information and intelligence than I would have. In a situation like this one we have to be very cautious,” Mr Martin said. “It is very difficult for us at this distance to make any judgment call for who was responsible for this.”

Mr Martin said Ireland wants there to be a humanitarian ceasefire, and he had been informed by Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, that the situation was “dire on the ground”.

The first priority, Mr Martin said, should be to get emergency supplies to Gaza before getting the 40 or so Irish aid workers in the area out.

In relation to Irish troops in Lebanon, Mr Martin said he has spoken to the Lebanese defence minister Maurice Sleem and Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Seán Clancy about Irish troops stationed there. The troops are part of a 10,000-strong peacekeeping force under UN military leadership.

He said the removal of Irish troops as a result of hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah is “not under consideration at present”, and the Irish troops had a long history of staying in Lebanon even in difficult times in the past.