European Parliament calls for release of Israelis held in Gaza

The European Parliament on Thursday, in an unprecedented move, condemned Hamas and called for the release of Israeli citizens held in Gaza and for the retrieval of the bodies of Israeli soldiers bodies held by the terror group.

An original motion had included severe condemnation against Israel, as well as a request for investigation at the International Criminal Court of Justice in Hague, determination that the IDF did not use proportional force, a call to re-examine Israel’s ties in the EU and an immediate establishment of a EU investigation committee to review the latest events in Gaza.

The resolution was completely altered and many provisions were added which unusually correspond with the Israeli stand regarding Gaza.

According to the resolution adopted, Israel is still condemned for shooting Gaza’s citizens and is called to end the siege, however, the use of disproportional force was not determined. In the resolution, the European Parliament, housed in Strasbourg, France, called for an investigation, but added it will be executed by a special team assembled by its Chief of Staff.

The remaining provisions in the original notion for resolution were left out. However, the resolution calls for the immediate release of Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed and for the retrieval of the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul.

The resolution also emphasised that Hamas is a terror organisation which transformed Gaza into an enclave focused on terror, withholds basic rights from its citizens, prevents the region’s rehabilitation and continues to hinder the chance for reconciliation. It holds Hamas accountable for the assassination attempt on the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and condemns the organisation for acts of terror, rocket fire, infiltration attempts into Israel, tunnel diggings and use of citizens as human shields.

Moreover, the resolution determines that despite the Palestinians’ right to peaceful protests, the Gaza’s leaders must avoid incitement and ensure demonstrations should not be used for spreading terror.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Anders Primdahl Vistisen said in a message to the press that he welcomed the decision, reiterating the parliament’s stance that “Hamas is a terror organisation” and called for the release of Israeli citizens and return of the bodies held by it.

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Statements

European Jewish Congress calls on EU and UN leaders to cease its one-sided Israel bashing that has direct consequences for Jews in Europe

“The constant flow of Israel-bashing by senior leaders in the EU and the UN with little to no criticism of Hamas terror is clearly the main contributory factor to huge growth in antisemitism recorded by all European Jewish communities since October 7 last year,” said EJC President Dr Ariel Muzicant.