Following the terrorist attacks in Israel by the Hamas, Roberta METSOLA, EP President, invites Members of the EP, Charles Michel, European Council President and Ursula Von Der LEYEN, European Commission President, to gather on the Esplanade in front of the EP building in Brussels, for a solemn moment "to remember all the victims, to show solidarity with all those targeted and to call for the immediate release of all hostages".

Brussels

statement

EU - Israel (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

Solemn Moment in front of the EP in Solidarity of the Victims of the Terror Attacks in Israel in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Thank you all for being here today. I know how much this means for people in Israel who have endured the worst terrorist attack in generations. I am proud to be here today with so many of you. Our presence here outside the European Parliament is significant. Our gathering held in the Simon Veil Agora is symbolic. Our voice is important and our strong stand against terrorism is crucial.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President October 7th is a day that will go down in global infamy. The world has witnessed Jews being murdered simply because they were Jewish. Again in Israel. We are here with the President of the European Council, the president of the European Commission, and all of you, as one, to express our solidarity, to condemn the appalling acts of terror and murder, and to demand the immediate release of hostages.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President Europe stands ready to help broker resolutions. But I've said it before and it bears repeating there is no justification for terrorism. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They do not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. They do not offer solutions. They offer bloodshed. It helps to speak plainly.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President On October 7th, Hamas murdered more than a thousand innocent babies, children, women and men, and still holds close to 100 more hostage. They opened fire on hundreds of young people at a music event, killing indiscriminately, including EU nationals. They abducted young girls and boys. They took elderly Holocaust survivors and dragged them out of their homes. They paraded dead people through the streets like trophies.

Soundbite (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President We have to be clear about what we are talking about. This is terror in its worst form. Ambassador Regev, thank you for being here today. This is Europe and we stand with you. I would now ask all of you to mark a moment of silence to remember the victims. Thank you as well.