Attacks “do not happen by accident” – Carmichael calls for greater protection of aid workers
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament called for the government to do more to challenge attacks and abuse of humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones. Speaking during a debate led by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison, Mr Carmichael warned that attacks on aid workers “do not happen by accident” but because licence is given by the authorities involved.
The debate follows an Israeli attack on an aid convoy in Gaza on 23rd March, in which 15 aid workers were killed and buried in a mass grave. The Israel Defense Forces initially claimed that some vehicles were moving suspiciously without headlights or flashing lights toward the Israeli troops and that members of the emergency teams were militants, before evidence contradicting this was published.
Speaking in the debate, Mr Carmichael said:
“My hon. Friend is making a significant speech on something that should concern us all. Does he agree that wherever these abuses are found, whether in Gaza, Sudan or any other theatre, they do not happen by accident? They happen because forces such as the Israeli Defence Forces, for example, are effectively given licence to do this by their Government. That is why, on a Government-to-Government basis, there is something that this country can actively do to make it clear to the Governments responsible for this treatment that it is not acceptable, and that we will take action to highlight their abuse and remove support from them.”
Responding, Tom Morrison MP said:
“My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I will speak later about an element of political will that we can partake in to make sure that we crack down on these abuses.
“Many of us have sat in the Chamber and heard the Government roll out the same line time and again when asked to apply pressure on state and non-state actors to comply with international law. The UK Government should not underestimate their power to influence global change; now is the time to step up and be a leader.”
Reacting after the debate, Mr Carmichael said:
“Protecting humanitarian aid workers has to be a basic principle of any conflict zone. We undermine that principle at our peril.
“No one who has seen the footage and read the stories about humanitarian aid workers being attacked and killed by Israeli forces and fail to be horrified by both the loss of life and the seeming impunity of those responsible. Our government must play its part in reasserting the rule of law, and acting against those who abuse and attack humanitarian workers.”