Ireland President Michael D Higgins marked the killing in Gaza as ‘war crime’ and called on to investigate over the matter.
He said the strike on Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, reportedly causing the deaths of hundreds of people, “may ultimately be a war crime” but the facts surrounding the tragic incident must be established.
President Higgins said “it is very important that there is a reliable investigation as to how it came to be, who is responsible and what the consequences are,” reports Irish Independent.
Last night, hundreds of Palestinians were reported to have been killed in a blast at Al Ahli hospital that has left both the Israeli and Palestinian officials blaming each other and nobody has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Speaking in Rome at a food security event at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, Mr Higgins said he had expressed “revulsion” at the attack on people attending a music event earlier this month and the circumstances of the killing of young people.
"We are not asked to choose and exclusively concentrate on that particular horror and set aside our concerns at what are the pre-announced deliberate breaches of international law which are involved when you remove water, when you remove medical aid and food itself from civilian populations,” he said.
Mr Higgins added: “We can’t afford to delay humanitarian corridors when there is a significant loss of life involved.”
"There has to be a ceasefire and serious engagement.”
"I cannot understand how the advocacy of no restraint isn't an encouragement to become involved in what ultimately might be a war crime.”
"But I believe one must establish the facts and they should be established and they should be made public."
President Higgins said although Israel had been on the receiving end of a “horrific attack”, that does not “confer impunity from international law.”
"If there is no international law to protect civilians, what world are we to live in, where is multilateralism then?" he said.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
