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Gaza: a cycle of violence that can be broken
un article par The Elders
Writing in Foreign Policy, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson
argue that to help bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to
peace, world leaders must recognise Hamas and pressure
both sides to respect international law: 
Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson
click on photo to enlarge
Israelis and Palestinians are still burying their loved ones as
Gaza's third war in six years continues. Since 8 July, when this
war began, more than 1,600 Palestinian and 65 Israeli lives
have been sacrificed. Many in the world are heartbroken in the
powerless certainty that more will die, that more are being
killed every hour.
This tragedy results from the deliberate obstruction of a
promising move toward peace in the region, when a
reconciliation agreement among the Palestinian factions was
announced in April. This was a major concession by Hamas, in
opening Gaza to joint control under a technocratic
government that did not include any Hamas members. The
new government also pledged to adopt the three basic
principles demanded by the Middle East Quartet comprised of
the United Nations, the United States, the European Union,
and Russia: nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and adherence
to past agreements. Tragically, Israel rejected this opportunity
for peace and has succeeded in preventing the new
government's deployment in Gaza.
Two factors are necessary to make Palestinian unity possible.
First, there must be at least a partial lifting of the 7-year-old
sanctions and blockade that isolate the 1.8 million people in
Gaza. There must also be an opportunity for the teachers,
police, and welfare and health workers on the Hamas payroll
to be paid. These necessary requirements for a human
standard of living continue to be denied. Instead, Israel
blocked Qatar's offer to provide funds to pay civil servants'
salaries, and access to and from Gaza has been further
tightened by Egypt and Israel.
There is no humane or legal justification for the way the Israeli
Defense Forces are conducting this war. Israeli bombs,
missiles, and artillery have pulverised large parts of Gaza,
including thousands of homes, schools, and hospitals. More
than 250,000 people have been displaced from their homes in
Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinian noncombatants have been
killed. Much of Gaza has lost access to water and electricity
completely. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.
There is never an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in
conflict. These are war crimes. This is true for both sides.
Hamas's indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians is equally
unacceptable. However, three Israeli civilians have been killed
by Palestinian rockets, while an overwhelming majority of the
1,600 Palestinians killed have been civilians, including more
than 330 children. The need for international judicial
proceedings to investigate and end these violations of
international law should be taken very seriously.
The UN Security Council should focus on what can be done to
limit the potential use of force by both sides. It should vote
for a resolution recognising the inhumane conditions in Gaza
and mandate an end to the siege. That resolution could also
acknowledge the need for international monitors who can
report on movements into and out of Gaza as well as cease-
fire violations. It should then enshrine strict measures to
prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Early
discussions have already taken place. The Elders, an
international group of elder statesmen of which we are a part,
hope these discussions will continue and reach fruition.
(This article is continued in the discussionboard)
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(The following is continued from the main article listed above.)
At the Palestinians' request, the Swiss government is considering convening an international conference of the signatory states of the Geneva Conventions, which enshrine the humanitarian laws of warfare. This could pressure Israel and Hamas into observing their duties under international law to protect civilian populations. We sincerely hope all states – especially those in the West, with the greatest power – attend and live up to their obligations to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of populations in occupied territory.
Unity between Fatah and Hamas is currently stronger than it has been for many years. As Elders, we believe this is one of the most encouraging developments in recent years and welcome it warmly. This presents an opportunity for the Palestinian Authority to reassume control over Gaza – an essential first step towards Israel and Egypt lifting the blockade.
The Palestinian Authority cannot manage the task of administering Gaza on its own. It will need the prompt return of the EU Border Assistance Mission, an international effort to help monitor border crossings that was launched in 2005 and suspended in 2007. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has already offered to reinstate the program, covering not only Rafah but all of Gaza's crossings. Egypt and Israel would, in turn, cooperate with international monitors to be deployed in Gaza and along its borders, backed by a UN Security Council mandate to protect civilian populations. . ... continuation.
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