EU chief labels Hamas attack an ‘act of terror’ that reflects ‘ ancient evil’
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled Hamas’s attacks against Israel as an “act of terror” that reflects “ancient evil.
“These innocents were killed for one single reason — for being Jewish and living in the State of Israel. It is an ancient evil, which reminds us of the darkest past and shocks all of us to the core,” von der Leyen said in the weekly meeting of commissioners Wednesday.
“We have to be clear in defining this kind of horror. It is terrorism. And it is an act of war,” von der Leyen continued.
Von der Leyen made clear the European Commission’s stance on the ongoing conflict, stating Europe stands with Israel and “fully support[s] Israel’s right to defend itself.”
“There can be no justification for Hamas’s act of terror,” von der Leyen said. “This has nothing to do with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. The horror that Hamas has unleashed will bring more suffering upon innocent Palestinians.”
Haim Regev, the Israeli ambassador to the European Union (EU) and NATO, attended the meeting, where leaders held a minute of silence for the Israeli victims killed by Hamas.
Hamas launched a surprise attack Saturday on Israel that killed hundreds — most of the dead appear to be civilians. The Biden administration on Tuesday confirmed 14 Americans have been killed and at least 20 American citizens remain unaccounted for.
Israel responded to the attacks with hundreds of strikes on Gaza, vowing to avenge the deadly attacks and destroy the militant group. More than 200,000 Palestinians have been forced out of their homes as food, water and electricity supplies dwindle as a result of Israel’s ordered siege on the territory.
Earlier this week, an EU commissioner said all payments from the developmental aid program for Palestinians would be “immediately suspended. The EU quickly reversed that statement, clarifying no payments will be suspended, and it will review such payments to make sure the money was not misused, according to The Associated Press.
Von der Leyen echoed this sentiment on Wednesday, telling the commissioners, “EU funding has never and will never go to Hamas or any terrorist entity. So we will now again review the entire portfolio in light of an evolving situation on the ground.”
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