The task of the European Union is to give hope for peace in the Middle East, EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy Josep Borrell told the European Parliament in connection with the first anniversary of the deadly attack by the Palestinian Islamist organization “Hamas” against Israel on October 7, quoted by BTA.
He explained that it is necessary to “seek peace where there is now hatred, to create ties between the two countries that have been fighting for the same land for years”.
„There is no other solution but to share it, to move from mutual negation to mutual recognition”, Borrell pointed out and described the fragmented Palestinian territory as an “archipelago”.
He called for peace in the Middle East, but also for peace among the people who live “within the borders of the illegally occupied territories”.
„There is nothing more perverse than wanting the death of a human being because he belongs to a particular nation or community. Israel, which is a democratic country, should not behave like terrorist organizations like “Hamas” and “Hezbollah”, Borrell emphasized.
At the start of his speech to the European Parliament, Borrell read the declaration that was presented earlier this morning to mark the anniversary of the attacks. He described the attack on October 7, 2023 as a terrorist attack “against a people who have suffered so much” and again called for the unconditional release of all hostages.
„Israel cannot look to its future if it does not do enough to ensure that October 7 never happens again,” Borrell said, but he also recalled the severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as the military actions in the northern part of the country, which became the reason “for the emigration of millions of Lebanese and about 60,000 Israelis from their homes”.
The High Representative of the EU for foreign policy and security denied the accusations of the chairman of the group “Patriots for Europe” in the European Parliament, Jordan Bardella, that the coffers of “Hamas” are being filled with European funds.
„After the terrorist attack, a decision was made to audit where European funds go. The presented report showed that there is no trace of European funds reaching "Hamas", Borrell said, and called on Bardella to provide evidence of his claims by tomorrow or withdraw them.