The European Parliament held a special session on the Hamas attack on Wednesday, attended by family members of the abducted, missing and murdered. As part of an information delegation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Foreign Affairs, meetings were held with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and with ambassadors from many EU countries, including Austria, Greece, Italy and Ireland. In addition, representatives of the families and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen addressed members of the European Parliament.
Yoni Asher, whose wife and daughters were abducted to the Gaza Strip, chanting the Shema in the European Parliament hall // Courtesy of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight against Antisemitism
The European Parliament hall was full, attended by more than 1 participants and opened with a minute of silence in memory of the 400,240 victims of the October <> massacre and a call for the release of the <> hostages held captive by Hamas.
Yoni Asher, whose family members were murdered and abducted by Hamas, spoke: "How can you explain the fact that the citizens of Europe are being murdered - my mother-in-law among them, the citizens of Europe are being kidnapped - my little daughters, my wife - and no statement has yet been made on your part on the subject. What kind of message does this convey that no call for help has been issued by this respected institution for the abducted babies? Is this German passport just a piece of paper? What will happen if, God forbid, such a catastrophe occurs on European soil?"
Representatives of the families at a discussion in the European Parliament today, photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the fight against antisemitism
"I hear the saying, 'Europe is next.' But it's not a future situation – it's happening with you too, now! It's not about anti-Semitism, it's about jihad – and it means killing everyone."
Asher went on to demand the attention of the MPs present: "We all want peace, for the whole region. And we don't want any child to get hurt. If the son of my child kidnapper was here by my side, I would hug him. I would kiss him. He did nothing wrong to anyone. I don't have time. I have to get my family, my wife, my little ones out of there now! You must do everything in your power to free them. Decide now, which side of history you stand. We will win this war, together the Western world will defeat jihad." Yoni, who ended his speech with an emotional Shema of Israel, was answered by the audience with a cry of "Amen."
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen recalled history, saying, "In 2005, we evacuated the area. There was no dispute about even one inch, the world promised us that they would build a new Singapore and gave them billions. They built tunnels with them."
Foreign Minister in the European Parliament: "In 2005 we evacuated the area. The world promised us that they would build a new Singapore and gave them billions. They built tunnels with them" // Courtesy of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the fight against anti-Semitism
The delegations project, initiated by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Struggle against Antisemitism, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AMI Administration, was established in order to create international pressure for the release of the abductees and to raise awareness of the October 7 massacre.
Among the representatives of the families in the delegation: Ayala Yahalomi - her brother, Ohad, and his son (nephew), Eitan, were abducted by Hamas from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz to the Gaza Strip. Shai Venkert - Omar, his son (22), was kidnapped at a party in Reim. Omar suffers from a chronic illness and needs medication. Omri Almog - Omri's sister, Chen Almog-Goldstein (49), together with her three children: Agam (3), Gal (18) and Tal (11) were abducted to Gaza and her husband Nadav Almog-Goldstein (9) and their daughter Yam (49) were murdered by the terrorists in their home in the village of Gaza.
Dvora Idan - Tzachi Idan (49), Dvora's son, was abducted to Gaza and his daughter Maayan (18) was murdered by terrorists in their home in Nahal Oz on October 7. and Yoni Asher - his wife, Doron Katz Asher (34), was kidnapped, her mother, Efrat Katz (69), was murdered, and his young daughters Raz (4.5) and Aviv (2.5) were kidnapped together with his mother, brother-in-law Ravid Katz (51), and his mother-in-law's boyfriend. Abductees in Gaza.
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