The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)
Speaker: Philippe LAMBERTS (Belgium, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Ecologistes Confédérés pour l'Organisation de Luttes Originales)
Date: 2023-10-18

  Philippe Lamberts,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify the barbaric acts committed by Hamas – deliberately killing civilians, taking children, women and men hostage. What this terrorist organisation committed are crimes against humanity, in line with its chief goal: the obliteration of Israel. We condemn them in the strongest possible terms, and I stand here, in the name of the Greens/EFA, in full solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.
As well put by US author Frank Herbert. ‘atrocity has no excuses, no mitigating arguments. Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future for more atrocity.’
Yes, Israel has the right and duty to defend its citizens, in full compliance with international humanitarian law. This means that the response to crime cannot be more crime, and that the atrocities suffered do not provide a permission for revenge. Israel’s legitimate fight against Hamas is turning into the collective punishment of 2 million Gazans, and half of them are children. Trapped under an illegal siege, they are either forced into an impossible relocation or risk being killed by Tzahal’s attacks, as more than 3 000 were already. No less than Israeli victims, Palestinian victims deserve our full solidarity.
Dear colleagues, the world is staring into the abyss. The European Union must stand united in calling for an immediate ceasefire, so as to allow the creation of humanitarian corridors and the safe and unconditional return of hostages. We must be unanimous in our efforts to demand the respect of international humanitarian law by all actors. We must collectively step up our efforts to relaunch a political process that will make a two-state solution viable. There is no other choice if we want Israelis to live in security, if we want Palestinians to live in dignity and if we are serious about ensuring their coexistence.
For there will be no peace until terrorist organisations such as Hamas are neutralised. There will be no peace as long as Palestinian territories are illegally occupied, and Palestinians’ rights denied and their resources confiscated. There will be no peace until democratic institutions are firmly restored and anchored. There will be no peace until Palestinians and Israelis are both free to live, speak, move, work, love as they wish in safety, regardless of their origins and beliefs.
Chers collègues, pour conclure, comme le dit la romancière israélienne Zeruya Shalev, il faudra que, «lorsque les canons se seront tus, apparaissent clairement les seules divisions possibles au Moyen-Orient. Non pas entre les Juifs et les Arabes, mais entre les modérés et les extrémistes, entre les pragmatiques et les fanatiques. Puissions-nous unir nos forces, nous qui prônons la vie et les concessions contre notre ennemi commun. Perspective qui semble bien lointaine aujourd’hui, mais à quel autre espoir nous raccrocher?»