IRISH WARNING:THERE CAN be no justification for the use of force against anyone on board the Irish-owned aid ship headed for Gaza, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said last night.
The minister was speaking after it emerged that those travelling on the MV Rachel Corriehad rejected a proposal drawn up by the Israeli and Irish governments whereby the vessel would have agreed to be diverted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. He noted that those on board the ship had indicated they were willing to accept inspection of their cargo at sea before docking in Gaza, but the Israeli government was adamant it would not allow any breach of its naval blockade of the territory.
Yesterday morning Israeli officials working with their Irish counterparts agreed on a plan under which the ship’s cargo would have been discharged and inspected under the supervision of UN officials and representatives from the Irish Aid division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The entire cargo would then have been transported to Gaza.
Two activists from the MV Rachel Corriewould have been permitted to accompany the cargo to the Israeli border crossing into Gaza at Erez.
"In my view, such an arrangement would have offered a useful precedent for future humanitarian shipments, pending the complete lifting of the blockade," Mr Martin said. "This proposal was put to those on board the Rachel Corriewho, on Friday afternoon, after careful consideration and having thanked the Government for its efforts, declined to accept it."
Mr Martin said he respected the activists’ right to decline the proposal and maintaining their protest against the Israeli blockade by continuing on towards Gaza.
He reiterated that if, as was its stated intention, the Israeli forces intercepted the vessel, the Irish government demanded that they employ “every restraint”. He stressed that those on board had made clear their intentions were peaceful and that they would offer no resistance to Israeli force in the event of an interception.
"Based on these assurances, there can be no justification for the use of force against any person on board the Rachel Corrie," he said. The Government also called on Israel to ensure the transfer to Gaza of the vessel's entire cargo, including the more than 500 tonnes of cement needed for reconstruction purposes. Israel has objected to cement, claiming it can be used to make rocket launchers.
As the Rachel Corriecontinues to approach Gaza, the Government's primary concern is the safety of Irish citizens and others on board," Mr Martin said.
“We are also conscious of the urgent need to address the humanitarian concerns of the people of Gaza, the desirability of reducing international tensions following the violent storming of humanitarian supply vessels by Israeli commandos earlier this week, and the obligation of states to respect the right to peaceful protest.”
In Luxembourg, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the vessel should be allowed “under supervision” into Gaza. “There is no doubt that what the Israelis are doing in Gaza is wrong, it’s collective punishment. I would always support genuine humanitarian aid getting into places like Gaza.”
There should be a little bit of understanding on both sides, he added. There wasn’t such understanding on the Israeli side. “But you also have to try and look at it from their point of view too because they are being bombed out of existence by Hamas on a daily basis.”