Speaking to Lovin Malta, Buttigieg stated that “sadly”, he was the only Maltese member of parliament addressing this issue. In his speech, he exclaimed that it is his responsibility, as well as his colleagues “in this room” to be instruments of peace. 

“I believe that the massacre of the Palestinian population in Gaza is not acceptable.”

“Some may say that Malta is a neutral state – it’s not our business, it’s theirs – but I believe that someone who reasons in this way only sees just till the tip of his nose and forgets that everything that happens in the world will affect us and our country. Also, neutrality doesn’t mean that we remain passive to what is wrong.”

Buttigieg ensured that he condemns “without reserve” the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October and acknowledges the people “brutally killed” in Israel, however, he maintained that with the same “strength and determination” he condemns the “carpet bombing and massacre in Gaza”.

“How can we accept the killing of over 22,000 people? How can we justify this.”

“While I believe that Israel had and has the right to protect itself, this right does not give a license to destroy a whole country.”

“When, in the past, the terrorist group the IRA in Ireland was committing terrorist acts, the English government didn’t go and bomb Belfast or the whole of Ireland, they didn’t kill children and women. Instead, they did difficult work to get to where they are today.”

He went on to state that, unfortunately, Israel is “planting the seed for more attacks in the future.”

He explained that some of the children and teens who today are being repeatedly traumatised seeing their families die in some of the most tragic ways will grow up thinking that the only solution to deal with pain and trauma is to commit other violent and terrorist acts. 

Here, he emphasised that this will not be the result in all children, but in enough of them.

“So, this experience shows us that violence breeds violence. Violence never brought peace in these countries.” 

Moreover, he went on to say that the question of the Palestinian’s right to their land is “dirtying the face of civilisation” and there is only one solution: a two-state one.

“It’s sad the extremists from both sides do not understand that this is the only road for the future.”

Buttigieg ended the speech greeting both sides of the war, in an effort to show that peace with the existence of both states is possible.

“I want to end this by saying shalom Israel and salam Gaza.”

Do you agree with Buttigieg’s sentiments?