31/05/2010 President
Strasbourg, 31.05.2010 - “I am deeply shocked to learn that civilians who were attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza have lost their lives or been severely injured,” the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Mevlüt Çavusoglu said in a statement, reacting to last night’s interception by Israel of an aid convoy to Gaza.
“This should never happen, whatever the reason. I condemn this action by Israeli forces and deplore the disproportionate use of force employed. Targeting those who are involved in humanitarian and peaceful activities can never be justifiable, and goes against the values we defend in the Council of Europe. The full facts of this incident must now be clarified, and those who have violated international law fully held to account.”