Watch: ‘I’m Scared Of The Radicalism This Genocide Will Breed’ – Mark Anthony Sammut On Gaza
PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut went hard against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, saying that he fears the “genocide” will fuel future radicalism and terrorism.
While calling for Malta’s Parliament to recognise Palestine and condemning Israel’s military campaign, he reminded that the despair sown from the genocide in Gaza today will strengthen the terrorism of tomorrow.
“What should we expect from people who have had their entire families killed and have been left without anything to live for? What do you expect from this situation?” Sammut told Members of Parliament earlier this week.
“Past victims are today’s oppressors”
Sammut condemned Israel for its “barbaric, atrocious and inhumane” acts against the Palestinian people both within and outside Gaza.
He recounted times he visited Auschwitz and Israel and pointed out similarities to the merciless oppression of two peoples in two different periods.
“When I saw the walls around Bethlehem and other Palestinian cities, I found it hard to see a difference between the walls in Palestine today and the walls in the ghettos of 85 years ago. To me, the biggest tragedy is that the victims of the past have become the oppressors of today.”
Sammut stated that critics condemn Israel because its actions are deplorable, not because of antisemitism “as some people here would like to argue”.
Malta must recognise Palestine
To open his speech, Sammut highlighted the recent heinous attack on 27 Palestinians Gaza as they were trying to get food from a centre that was dispersing it. Not to mention, the population is still reeling from a three-month blockade on humanitarian aid that has only slightly been lifted.
He stated that he understands Israel’s need to defend itself and censured the Hamas attack of 7th October 2023, but admitted that the ongoing military response has gone far beyond defence.
“You don’t defend yourself by massacring innocent people. You don’t defend your security by leaving people hungry or by shooting at people who are trying to get food”
This led him to call on the Parliament to be clear in condemning the “ongoing barbaric atrocities in Gaza the same way we condemn any other terrorist attack.”
More importantly, Sammut urged Prime Minister Robert Abela and his government to recognise Palestine.
He drew to past administrations, both Labour and Nationalist, saying that historically, Malta has always recognised Palestine’s aspirations to be an independent state and that this should not stop here, or wait.
He noted that the governments led by Dom Mintoff, Eddy Fenech Adami, Alfred Sant and Lawrence Gonzi consistently recognised Palestine, provided humanitarian aid and pushed for peace.
“I appeal to the government and the Prime Minister to keep building on this track record. We have a moral obligation to recognise Palestine before waiting for other states to do so, we should be the first to condemn barbaric acts without mercy.”
Should Malta recognise Palestine?
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