The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, defended this Wednesday “a united response” of the European Union (EU) to “the horror” of the attacks by the Islamist group Hamas in Israel, which must “react as a democracy” . “.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, in accordance with international law. Hamas are terrorists. And the Palestinians also suffer this horror and we must support them,” he said today, in a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. , during a debate on the Islamist group’s attacks and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
“Solidarity is the least we can do for the people of Israel. This horror demands a united response from all of us, as human beings, defenders of a free world, as citizens of Europe, where hatred, terrorism and racism do not exist.” “they have a place,” he said.
Europe, he stressed, “stands with Israel in these difficult times.”
Von der Leyen justified her trip to Israel, which has been the subject of criticism, last Friday, days after the Hamas attack on October 7: “It was important to convey this message of solidarity in person, in Israel.”
“Only if we recognize Israel’s pain and its right to defend itself will we have the credibility to say that Israel must react as a democracy, in line with international humanitarian law. This is crucial to protect civilian lives,” he considered.
During that visit, he added, he discussed with Israel “efforts to protect civilian lives.” He also criticized the lack of an immediate reference to the need for Israel to act within the limits of international law.
“For our part we cannot doubt: Europe will always be on the side of humanity and human rights,” he stated.
Regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Von der Leyen warned that “it is deteriorating hour by hour” and that support “must urgently reach the Palestinians,” adding that the first two humanitarian aid flights will take place this week. , transporting material from Unicef (United Nations children’s agency).
“The European Union has always been the largest international donor to Palestine and this will not change,” said the president of the European Commission, who defended the need to review financial aid “with urgency and care.”
“We have never sent money to Hamas or any other terrorist organization, we never will. Hamas’ actions are completely disconnected from the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” he said.
Von der Leyen also warned about the regional situation and the risk that the Hamas attack affects “the historic rapprochement” between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and called for the containment of instability and the continuation of dialogue.
“This time of war must also be a time of unbreakable democracy,” he stressed.
The official also warned against the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe, with hate speech and fake news: “It is our common responsibility to ensure that our dark past does not return. We must protect Jewish life in Europe.”
Von der Leyen regretted last night’s attack on the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza, in which nearly 500 people died, which she described as “a senseless tragedy.”
“There is no excuse to attack a hospital full of civilians. All the facts must be established and those responsible must be held accountable,” he stressed.
Source: TSF
