Irish MEPs demand cease-fire in Gaza amid Mideast conflict

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Irish members of the European Parliament demanded a cease-fire in Gaza on Thursday amid the ongoing Mideast conflict.

MEP Mick Wallace shared a joint statement on X ahead of a EU Council leaders summit.

The group of MEPs urged the Council "to call for an immediate ceasefire, as well as urgent efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of people in Gaza."

They also stressed the "universal applicability of international humanitarian law," and said it binds all parties in all conflicts.

"Indiscriminate warfare resulting in the killing of civilians cannot be justified," they wrote. "Calling for anything less than an immediate ceasefire would depart from EU's responsibility to uphold international law, to protect human life, and to secure peace."

The document was signed by Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Chris MacManus, Ciaran Cuffe, Grace O’Sullivan, Billy Kelleher, Colm Markey and Luke Ming Flanagan.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.