Debate: 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
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Manfred Weber
Political group: PPE
Country: Austria
Language: EN

On 7 October, Israel was attacked. Israel was attacked in Be’eri kibbutz and 120 children, women and men were killed. Parents used their bodies to protect their children. Israel was attacked during a festival to celebrate peace, and 250 young people were killed. Israel was attacked in shops, streets, at home: more than 2 000 victims. Women being raped and paraded as trophies, including people with European passports in their pockets, which 20% of Israelis do. Israel was attacked, but also Europe was attacked, the European way of life was attacked. Israel was, after the Holocaust, the promise that Jewish people can live safe, in safety and in peace. And now Holocaust survivors were dragged out of their homes, being abducted and held hostage. The images of media broadcast since Saturday are the ones that make us put our hands over our children’s eyes. This is the evil face of terrorism. The brutality of Hamas recalls the worst atrocities of ISIS. Hamas terrorists attacked a party in Israel, as ISIS attacked the Bataclan in Paris. We see in Israel what we saw in Paris: resentful, inhumane attacks against freedom. And terrorists spread like a virus: in France a teacher was killed and in Belgium two Swedish citizens were killed. The virus of terrorism is also back in Europe. And it is a moment when we are tested. I tell you, these terrorists made the same fatal mistake all terrorists do: they underestimate the power of democracy and the will to defend freedom. Colleagues, these are days of mourning for the victims and of hope for those still in the hands of Hamas. But these must also be days of firm determination. We must be crystal-clear: we stand with Israel. No hesitation, no excuses, no buts. In such a critical moment, in such a critical situation, Europe has to stand together. And that’s why I thank Ursula von der Leyen for her trip of last Friday to Israel. I have to be honest, I was a little bit surprised that it took 10 days for the Council to have an online meeting, 10 days in such a moment. High Representative, dear Josep, I respect you personally very much, you know this. But in a moment when our neighbourhood is on fire and we know about the geopolitical importance of the region, Blinken is travelling to Egypt and Israel, and our High Representative is travelling to China in such a moment. And I was told that in the last four years, you never went to Israel to do talks there and try to establish a peace process in a solid way. So that’s why it is, in a way, a lesson learned: we have to come together and define a common European approach. For us as the EPP Group, some points are key. First: we are on the side of Israel. Second: we are fighting against Hamas, against terrorism, not against the Palestinian people. Third: we are ready to support with humanitarian aid and even with additional money, as Ursula von der Leyen proposed it. We care about every victim in this tragic conflict. Fourth: not one cent of EU money must end up in the pockets of Hamas or any other terrorist group. Fifth: whoever supports the terror of Hamas and Hezbollah is Europe’s enemy. We have to rethink also our policy towards Iran.  Sixth: it is unbelievable what happened on social media during the last days: Hamas propaganda glorifying terror without limits. The killer of Brussels was online explaining why he was killing innocent people. Our youth listening online to these kind of things. This must stop. This must stop immediately. Zuckerberg and Musk must finally stop being the megaphone of hate messages. And seventh: we in Europe we must activate now our tightest screening mechanisms to make sure that no terrorists enter Europe through migrant routes. Dear colleagues, it is a moment where we are tested. We have to be together. I thank also Roberta Metsola for her trip to Israel. Our position is crystal clear. We stand by Israel’s promise for freedom, peace and democracy.