EU chiefs pay tribute to Israelis slain 'because they were Jewish'

Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse
Oct 11, 2023
European Council President Charles Michel, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at the tribute to the victims of the Hamas-organized attacks in Israel
European Council President Charles Michel, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at the tribute to the victims of the Hamas-organized attacks in Israel — BENOIT DOPPAGNE

The European Union's most senior officials held a solemn tribute Wednesday for the Israelis killed in Hamas attacks, and issued their most stark condemnation yet of the Palestinian militant group.

Attending a minute's silence in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, the president of the assembly Roberta Metsola made it clear she believes the killings were motivated by anti-Semitism.

"October 7 is a day that will go down in global infamy," she said, referring to Saturday's Hamas assault.

"The world has witnessed Jews being murdered simply because they were Jewish. Again. In Israel."

Her words reflected an address made earlier by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to a meeting of the 27 EU commissioners.

"These innocents were killed for one single reason. For being Jewish and living in the State of Israel," von der Leyen said, in remarks released on social media.

"It is an ancient evil, which reminds us of the darkest past and shocks all of us to the core."

At the memorial ceremony, Metsola and von der Leyen were joined by EU Council president Charles Michel and Israel's ambassador to the EU Haim Regev.

Also in attendance were senior MEPs and officials from EU member states.

EU leaders attend a minute's silence in front of the European Parliament in Brussels for Israelis killed in the Hamas assault

They met outside the parliament on the Simone Veil agora, named after a French politician and a predecessor in Metsola's role who was a survivor of the Auschwitz death camp.

"Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They do not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. They do not offer solutions. They offer bloodshed," Metsola said.

"It helps to speak plainly. On October 7, Hamas murdered more than a thousand innocent babies, children, women and men and still hold close to 100 more hostage."

On Tuesday, after meeting EU foreign ministers, Brussels' top diplomat Josep Borrell condemned Hamas but urged Israel in its response to respect international law and not to impose a total siege on Gaza.

But at Wednesday's tribute, the focus was on solidarity with Israel.

"This is not a time for whataboutism. We have to be clear about what we are talking about: this is terror in its worst form," Metsola said.

"Ambassador Regev, thank you for being here today. This is Europe. We stand with you."