10.16 pm
Emily Thornberry (Islington, South and Finsbury) (Lab): “The Spirit of Humanity” sailed from Larnaca, Cyprus at the end of June, attempting to get to Gaza seaport and sailing under a Greek flag. There were 21 passengers and crew on board, from 11 different countries, including six British people. One of the latter was my constituent, Miss Alex Harrison, who lives on the Marquess estate. In the early hours of 30 June, while they were still in international waters, they were surrounded by Israeli gunboats and threatened with being fired on. Their radar and communications systems were jammed and they were warned hourly that they must change course because, “You are headed for a blockaded area. All force necessary will be used.” Lights were flashed at them throughout the night and, when they were 24 miles from Gaza, Zodiac boats appeared and then left again.
About four miles into Gaza’s waters, the boats reappeared—six boats with 12 soldiers in each, wearing full-face balaclavas. They boarded the boat and all the passengers lay on the floor. My constituent, as a member of the crew, was still standing and was pushed to the floor at gunpoint.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): I am pleased that my hon. Friend has secured this debate. Can she confirm that what the Israeli navy was doing at that point was totally illegal under international law? It was stopping an unarmed civilian vessel that was well known to be carrying humanitarian aid, and that is a contravention of international law.
Emily Thornberry: It would seem that that is the case, and I shall ask the Minister to confirm that.
It took seven hours for the boat to get into the port of Ashdod, where those on board were greeted by hundreds of jeering Israeli soldiers. The crew and passengers were held for between one and seven days, charged with illegally entering Israel and deported. That was ironic, because Israel was the last place they wanted to be. They wanted to go to Gaza—and Gaza as part of a Palestinian state. They were trying to publicise what has been happening in Gaza recently, and I shall outline some of those events.
As hon. Members know, Gaza is a small coastal strip, cut off from the outside world. Even before the latest hostilities, drastic restrictions on the movement of people and goods were imposed by the Israeli authorities, especially since October 2007. Those have led to worsening poverty, rising unemployment and deteriorating public services such as health care, water and sanitation.
When the eyes of the world were on Gaza, in the immediate aftermath of the military action by Israel, it was hoped that the tunnels would be closed and the crossings would be opened, and that Gaza might have a chance. However, six months later, after the hostilities had finished and the eyes of the world had looked away, restrictions on imports continued. It is impossible for Gazans to rebuild their lives. The quantities of goods now entering Gaza fall well short of what is required to meet the population’s needs. According to the International
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Red Cross, in May 2009, only 2,662 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel, a decrease of almost 80 per cent. compared with the 11,392 truckloads allowed in during April 2007 before Hamas took over the territory.
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): In fairness, I think that the Israeli Government’s stance should be expressed. I wrote to them about what had happened with “The Spirit of Humanity”. They wrote back and told me that receipt of humanitarian supplies, in some cases, has led to a surplus of humanitarian aid. Does my hon. Friend recognise that situation?
Emily Thornberry: I rely on the International Committee of the Red Cross and its excellent report, published in June, which gives an up-to-date assessment of what is happening in Gaza. Of course, it is always difficult to get access to information on which everyone can rely, but surely no one can argue with the ICRC on the issue. For example, it states that
“water and sanitation services could collapse at any moment”
in Gaza, which
“raises the spectre of a major public health crisis.”
It goes on to say:
“The only way to address this crisis is to lift import restrictions on spare parts, water pipes and building materials such as cement and steel so that homes can be rebuilt and vital infrastructure maintained and upgraded.”
Terrible stories are coming out about health care. One of the people suffering as a result of the restrictions is a woman whose case is highlighted by the ICRC, who has a pancreatic tumour. She is only 26, her name is Do’aa, and she has been waiting since January 2009 for permission to travel through Israel to get to Jordan for an operation. She has so far been refused, and she is likely to die.
Those who wish to get out of Gaza in order to get health care, because there is not sufficient and adequate health care in Gaza for those who have terrible conditions, find themselves caught in a bureaucratic maze. They request permission to leave the territory, which is incredibly complicated, and they find themselves waiting for many months. Many of them die. For those who do get permission to leave, even getting through the crossing can be very arduous. Patients on life support machines are
“removed from ambulances and placed on stretchers, then carried 60-80 metres through the crossing to ambulances waiting on the other side.”
Patients who can walk unassisted often
“face extensive questioning before they are allowed through the crossing for medical treatment—or, as sometimes happens”
they are simply refused entry into Israel and turned back again.
The economy is strangled; there is soaring unemployment and alarming poverty. We simply have to allow Gaza to breathe. Local industry, agriculture, fisheries and other businesses have not been allowed to rebuild, to import essential inputs or to export their products, but even that would take time. The crisis has become so severe and entrenched that even if all the crossings were to be opened tomorrow it would take years for the economy to recover.
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We must end the virtual blockade of Gaza. The crossing points must be opened and the legitimate security concerns of the Israelis have to be balanced with the right of Palestinians to live normal and dignified lives. Re-establishing humanitarian aid is really only the international community pleading to be allowed to put sticking plasters on to Gaza. What the people of the region need, more than anything else, is political courage. They need a political solution that will give peace and security to the people of Israel and Palestine.
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): My hon. Friend is describing an intolerable situation perpetrated by the Israeli state. Is it not a fact that her constituent and mine, who were on board “The Spirit of Humanity”, were trying to alleviate that inhumanity but were the victims first of piracy by the Israeli navy and then kidnapping by the Israeli army?
Emily Thornberry: Again, on the face of it that would seem to be accurate. I would welcome the Minister’s comments on that point. Will he give me an update on whether Her Majesty’s Government agree that those people were, at the very least, harassed in international waters? Given the wholly disproportionate nature of the Israeli military operation in Gaza in January, will the Government reassess whether it is appropriate to sell arms to or buy arms from Israel? Finally, what hope is there for Gaza?
