“Recent developments in the Middle East: Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s response”
AKEL Parliamentary Representative Georgios Loukaides, United European Left UEL, Cyprus, at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
23 January 2024
Dear Colleagues,
In the 13 years I have been at the PACE there have been moments of disappointment due to the prevalence of double standards.
On the other hand, there have also been many moments of satisfaction, as the PACE stood up for its core values and principles, demonstrating in practice its resolve and determination as a pioneer organisation in the field of human rights protection.
However, in the case of the atrocities committed by Israel, the stance of the Council of Europe, and the Assembly in particular, has been the most disappointing experience thus far.
Even though we correctly condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on the 7th October as it also targeted innocent civilians, we have for 105 consecutive days closed our eyes to the tragic situation of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Not only did this Organisation not condemn this situation, regrettably it has not even voiced criticism nor prompted the consideration of an alternative reaction on the part of Israel.
Even though UN has documented the following realities, no statement was made as regards the massive murder of thousands of civilians, the majority of which were women and children, including also 75 journalists, UN staff as well as medical and paramedical personnel.
We remained silent whilst Israel made Gaza uninhabitable by attacking housing units and infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, churches and mosques, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
We ignored the relevant statements issued by Israeli government officials, including those of Netanyahu, and the relevant Israel’s acts of genocide as we also ignored the deprivation of Palestinians access to water, food, electricity and fuel, leading them to starvation.
We did not feel the need to react on the massive displacement of almost 90% of Gaza’s population and the acts of ethic cleansing that have created a worse Nakba than the previous one.
Our silence does not honour this organisation but on the contrary undermines its credibility.
However, this Resolution, if relevant amendments will be supported, gives us the opportunity to speak the truth and to call a spade a spade:
-to condemn not only the events on October 7th, but also those that preceded and followed them.
-to call for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,
-to call for the immediate release of all Hamas hostages and political detainees in Israeli prisons,
-to call on the Israeli authorities to end the policies of occupation and apartheid, to prevent settler violence and refrain from building new settlements or extend old ones and for carrying out home demolitions, forced evictions and confiscation of land in the occupied territories.
-To call for the resumption of peace negotiations based on a two state solution in accordance with UN resolution that will lead to a just and lasting peace for all the peoples of the region.
Thank you.
