Durkan writes to Hague and Martin over flotilla killings

The Londonderry MP has also lodged protests with the Israeli Ambassadors in London and Dublin.

Below reads the letter addressed by Mr Durkan to Mr Hague.

"I write to you to express my outright rejection of the shocking actions of the Israeli military in their marine assault on the Free Gaza aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday.

"There is widespread revulsion in my constituency, and beyond, at the pictures which have been relayed and which make undeniable the nature of this action.

"The new UK government must take a firm stance with the Israeli government in response to this gross violation of international law, in order to change the course of affairs in the Middle East towards a just and peaceful settlement.

"The raid took place in international waters and I therefore believe that any investigation into this incident must be carried out by an internationally constituted tribunal.

"The commando raid was a direct outworking of the illegal Israeli blockade on the Gaza strip.

"That blockade, as you know, is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 adopted in January 2009 in response to the Israeli land attack on Gaza.

"I understand from the Irish government that detainees were transported from international waters to Israel and pressed to sign documents there stating that they had entered that state illegally.

"This disregard for international law and for due process cannot be accepted.

"That reported treatment of detainees by the Israeli authorities at port only emphasise the importance of all detainees being afforded full consular access in accordance with the Vienna Conventions.

"I welcome your calls that this be afforded and I ask that the UK government work in partnership with its EU partners and others to ensure that all persons being detained are released unconditionally and immediately.

"The blockade is the underlying humanitarian crisis which Israeli policy is imposing on the people of Gaza.

"It amounts to collective punishment of that entire population. It is dehumanising and it exacerbates the impoverished conditions experienced by people living there.

"The deaths which have occurred at sea are a direct result of the illegal blockade and its enforcement by the Israeli military.

"This latest tragedy must signal a wake up call to the international community, in particular to the UK and its EU partners as well as Israel's allies.

"There must be meaningful and effective international pressure on Israel. The failure to stand up to Israel's gross and continuous crimes against Palestinians has only encouraged the contemptuous and contemptible mindset which has produced this massacre at sea.

"Israel must be made to realise that there are consequences for the continuing unacceptable actions which it has engaged in, particularly over recent months.

"Decisive steps must now be taken to press Israel towards realisation of its responsibilities under international law.

"Diplomatic representations have demonstrably failed to cajole Israel towards acceptable behaviour.

"I therefore ask that you raise at EU level the imposition of economic measures against Israel. These should have the dual purpose of compelling acquiescence to norms of international law and human rights as well as engagement in meaningful talks towards a peaceful and just resolution of the Middle East conflict.

"As I made clear to your predecessor, I record my outright condemnation of all indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas on civilian targets in Israel.

"These too constitute war crimes and must cease. However, any response by Israel to such attacks must at all times be proportionate.

"It is dishonest to imply military equivalence between Israeli air and ground fire-power and Hamas violence, while denying any moral or political equivalence between the rights of Israel and the Palestinian people.

"A solution to this international crisis must be realised without further prevarication."