“Whose side are you on?”

Whose side are you on?

On the side of the terrorists? On the side of the occupiers?

Are you antisemitic? A Zionist, perhaps?

It is hard to talk about what is happening in the Middle East, given that the situation changes practically by the hour, but it is even harder to be silent about it. Especially after this morning’s debate in the European Parliament. I have heard from many colleagues, including the President of the European Commission, that “we stand with Israel”. And this was followed by a full stop. To be precise, some added the word “unconditionally”.

Who do we stand with? In whose name? In the name of the European Union, which has been so very uncoordinated and disunited in its response to all this?

I’m deliberately provoking you with the questions above. Because they are, in fact, completely irrelevant. Because … do you know whose side one should be on? On the side of innocent people. Always. All of them.

There is, of course, no excuse for the terrorist attack by Hamas, and I condemn it emphatically – including on this occasion. There is no question that its actions were despicable and completely unjustifiable. It is understandable that the attacked country will react. IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL, HUMANITARIAN LAW.

Where this does not happen, it must be condemned just as emphatically. It is for this reason that I – also on this occasion – condemn ALL violations of international and humanitarian law by the State of Israel. All.

The Palestinian people are not Hamas. The Palestinian people are millions of innocent people living in an area where bombs are falling. Even in places like a children’s hospital.

The aforementioned BARBARIC terrorist acts should not be exploited to garner more support for the killing of the innocent Palestinian people, who have been suffering for years under occupation, in a dire humanitarian situation, which is only exacerbated by the current situation. My position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been clear.

No, this is not relativisation.

So, I will ask you again. Whose side are you on? Supporting one side only – unless it is the side of ALL innocent people – is nothing but hypocritical. One innocent life is not worth more than another.

– Irena