Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Yves Herman/Reuters
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack carried out exactly one year ago, on 7 October 2023, by the Palestinian movement Hamas in southern Israel. She also reiterated the European Union’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the unconditional release of all hostages. This was reported by the DPA news agency.
“On this tragic day, I want to honour the memory of the victims,” Ursula von der Leyen said in a written statement, adding that the EU “stands with all the innocent people whose lives have been profoundly shattered since that catastrophic day.”
She noted that the Hamas attack has caused great suffering not only to Israelis but also to innocent Palestinians. Von der Leyen also promised humanitarian and financial assistance to the Palestinian people and Lebanon.
Separately, the head of the European Commission drew attention to the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe, assuring that additional resources would be allocated to combat this phenomenon.
As a reminder, on the morning of 7 October 2023, Hamas forces broke through into southern Israel, killing 1,205 people, mostly civilians. Another 251 people were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip. In response to this attack, Israeli forces launched a large-scale air and ground operation against Hamas in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of at least 41,825 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
