Alex Agius Saliba Explains Why He Boycotted EU’s Solemn Moment For Israeli Victims
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba said he refused to take part in a “solemn moment” organised by the European Parliament in solidarity with the victims of Hamas because solidarity should also be expressed with Palestinian victims of Israel’s retaliation.
“While I wholeheartedly condemn the violence and killings by the Hamas terrorist group, I can never approve the state of Israel massacring the innocent people of Palestine, particularly those trapped in the Gaza Strip,” Agius Saliba said.
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“Hamas doesn’t represent the people of Palestine, people who have suffered a lot under the yoke of modern colonialism and extremist groups within its fold.”
“Had the EP president placed Palestinian, Israeli and EU flags next to each other and appealed for peace in the region, I would have been the first to participate.”
“I express my solidarity with the people of Israel who were murdered in such a barbaric manner, but I also express my solidarity with the innocent citizens in the Gaza Strip who are being mercilessly killed by Israeli forces with the excuse that they’re retaliating against Hamas. Let’s always work in favour of peace and dialogue.”
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Several EU politicians attended today’s solemn moment, including EP President Roberta Metsola who decried Hamas’ attacks as “terror in its worst form”.
“This is not a time for whataboutism,” Metsola continued. “We have to be clear about what we are talking about.”
“October 7th is a day that will go down in global infamy,” the European Parliament president stressed. “The world has witnessed Jews being murdered simply because they were Jewish. Again. In Israel.”
“Europe stands ready to help broker resolutions, but I’ve said it again and it bears repeating; there is no justification for terrorism,” Metsola went on. “Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They do not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians. They do not offer solutions, they offer bloodshed. It helps to speak plainly.”
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