International

SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen has asked Minster of Foreign Affairs Ben Bot to demand an explanation from the Israeli ambassador of breaches of the humanitarian laws of warfare in his country's conflict with Lebanon. In recent days populated areas of Lebanon have been attacked with cluster bombs, while Lebanese Red Cross ambulances have been fired on. Ms Van Velzen also wants to see Mr Bot make the case in the United Nations for measures to be taken against these breaches of humanitarian laws of warfare.

‘Human Rights Watch has announced that large numbers of people have lost their lives or been wounded in the Lebanon through a cluster bomb attack,' says Van Velzen. 'The Dutch government had always recognised that endangering the civilian population or civilian targets through the use of cluster bombs represents a breach of international law. Foreign Minister Bot must therefore treat this as a serious matter and protest against these attacks by Israeli armed forces.’

Firing on Red Cross ambulances in Lebanon, which has, according to the Dutch Red Cross, resulted in people being wounded, is also a breach of the laws of warfare. ‘The use of the Red Cross symbol is stipulated the humanitarian laws of warfare and means "Don't shoot!" Bot must openly condemn this breach.'

Cluster Bombs

Van Velzen has long urged the imposition of a moratorium on the use of cluster bombs by Dutch armed forces and for the government to play an active role in establishing an international treaty to ban such weapons. The International Red Cross agrees, stating that cluster bombs are so inhuman, disproportionate and indiscriminate that their use, especially in inhabited areas, should be outlawed.