Tsipras on the Middle East: Europe is not on the right side of history – His placement in the Council of Europe
Her immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all the hostages must be requested in a very clear way by Europe, Alexis Tsipras emphasized from the floor of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
In his statement he said, among other things: “I am afraid that when it comes to the Middle East, Europe is not on the ‘right side of history.’ We talk, here, every day about human rights and international law in Europe, but a few kilometers from our borders, in Palestine, 33,000 people have been killed by Israeli military operations, 70% of whom – says Mr. Borel – are innocent citizens, civilians”.
Mr. Tsipras unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks of October 7 by Hamas but also the Iranian attacks and Iran’s support for Hamas while pointing out that if Israel chooses to respond militarily, as it did in Damascus, escalation is a given and millions of people they will be at risk.
Tsipras: Let’s position ourselves against any military escalation
He also noted: “We must – in a very clear way – state that there must be an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza with the return of all hostages. We must position ourselves clearly against any military escalation. We must support the end of the occupation and the resumption of credible talks on a two-state solution. Based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, which will live peacefully with Israel.”
Referring to the overall stance of Europe, Alexis Tsipras called on the EU to take a stand and promote a peace conference, which should include the prospect of recognizing a Palestinian state on the basis of the solution, with international guarantees for Israel as well.
“Let’s not play with words”
Mr. Tsipras did not leave the German government’s ban on the event in which Yanis Varoufakis was also a speaker: “If we continue to play with words or obstruct the free dialogue about the Middle East, as we saw in Germany, then we send a message to the whole world that European values are nothing more than hypocrisy. We are sending the message that our rules are based on double standards. The truth is one. Either European values apply everywhere, or they are not values”, said Alexis Tsipras.
