Gerard P. Craughwell: Calls for War Tribunal over Gaza
Gerard P. Craughwell addressed the situation in the Middle East, focusing on Gaza and Lebanon, and warned about the planned end of the UNIFIL operation. He called for accountability for Israeli leaders he described as war criminals, urged Europe to act and criticised the US-Israel alignment that he said would remove "eyes on the ground".
He noted the matter is due before the United Nations Security Council on Friday and said the UNIFIL operation is to end on 26 December with a final withdrawal by 27 December. He reminded colleagues that his country has provided troops in Lebanon for over 50 years and that 47 personnel have lost their lives there.
He warned that Israel and America have come together in a way that would leave no representation and no "eyes on the ground" to observe events in the region. He said that one of UNIFIL's key roles has been to provide those eyes on the ground to see what is happening.
He described the Israeli leader by name as "the war criminal that needs to be tried and brought before an international court," and said senior military officers should also face tribunals. He argued that saying this is not anti-Semitic and urged European governments to stand up and not be afraid to confront the United States' ally in Israel.
He asked for consideration of the economic impact on coalition nations and for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza that he described to be publicly called out. He closed his remarks by emphasising the severity of the humanitarian situation and the need for international attention.
UNIFIL withdrawal and troop history
He noted the matter is due before the United Nations Security Council on Friday and said the UNIFIL operation is to end on 26 December with a final withdrawal by 27 December. He reminded colleagues that his country has provided troops in Lebanon for over 50 years and that 47 personnel have lost their lives there.
Concerns about eyes on the ground
He warned that Israel and America have come together in a way that would leave no representation and no "eyes on the ground" to observe events in the region. He said that one of UNIFIL's key roles has been to provide those eyes on the ground to see what is happening.
Calls for international accountability
He described the Israeli leader by name as "the war criminal that needs to be tried and brought before an international court," and said senior military officers should also face tribunals. He argued that saying this is not anti-Semitic and urged European governments to stand up and not be afraid to confront the United States' ally in Israel.
Economic and humanitarian concerns
He asked for consideration of the economic impact on coalition nations and for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza that he described to be publicly called out. He closed his remarks by emphasising the severity of the humanitarian situation and the need for international attention.
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Transcript
Thank you, Mr Chairman, and thank you for the two people who just presented for us. The situation in the Middle East, and particularly in Gaza and Lebanon, is to come before the United Nations Security Council on Friday, and we understand that the UNIFIL operation is to end at the end of December 26, with a final withdrawal by 27. This is not good news. My country has provided troops for over 50 years in the Lebanon. We have given – 47 of our men have given their lives in the Lebanon. Israel and America have come together to ensure that there is no representation, no eyes on the ground to see what's going on. And that has been one of the key things that UNIFIL has brought – eyes on the ground to see what's going on. Netanyahu, the war criminal that needs to be tried and brought before an international court, along with his senior officers, saying that is not anti-Semitic, and we need in Europe to stand up and start behaving like Europeans, not afraid to injure or hurt the USA by pointing out that their great ally in Israel, Netanyahu, is in fact somebody that needs to be brought to a war tribunal, along with his senior military officers. Europe has been too quiet for too long on this issue. And I will ask that, sir, to have a way, to have the economic impact in the nation of coalitions, where the ethnic cleansing of Gaza that's taking place needs to be called out for water disease. I will leave you at that, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Chairman.