Brief Israëldelegatie Europees Parlement aan leden Knesset - Hoofdinhoud

Steun voor Israëls strijd tegen Hamas, treurnis over uitblijven gijzelaarsdeal en een pleidooi voor humanitaire pauzes zodat hulp beter Gaza in kan. Lees onze brief (vanuit bureau Israëldelegatie Europees Parlement) aan de collega's in de Knesset.

• - 

  Europarlementariër Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) op X -

De brief:

European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Israel

Brussels, 25.07.2025

Ariel Kallner

Chair of the Knesset Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament

The Knesset

Kiryat Ben Gurion

Jerusalem, 9195016

Israel

Subject: Joint Commitment to Security, Humanity, and the Release of Hostages

Dear Ariel Kallner, Dear Members of the Knesset,

As the Bureau of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Israel, we

wish to express our continued solidarity with the State of Israel and its people during these challenging times.

We share the objective of definitively dismantling the terrorist organization Hamas, which has inflicted immense suffering on Israeli civilians, continues to attack Israel, still holds 50 people as hostages as an inhuman bargaining chip, and uses the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza as hostages for its ultimate goal to eradicate the State of Israel and the harm the Jewish population.

We deeply regret that negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas have so far made no progress and that no ceasefire has been achieved since the ceasefire earlier this year. We urge you to do everything within your power to use your channels to influence the negotiating parties and political actors who have leverage over Hamas, so that negotiations can swiftly lead to an end to the war in Gaza and the release of the hostages, including European citizens.

Beyond this shared goal of combating Hamas as a fundamental security threat to Israel’s citizens, we appeal to you - as partners bound by values and democracy and as representatives of the people - that we must not allow the cruelty and nihilism of Hamas to dictate our agenda. As democracies, we combine political and military resilience with respect for the dignity of every individual - as believers, for humanity among all people. Our words and deeds must make a difference, we must all be able to answer to our own conscience.

With deep concern we therefore wish to draw your attention to numerous eyewitness reports on the worrying humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are equally alarmed by credible reports that Hamas is attacking humanitarian distribution centers, deliberately obstructing aid deliveries to further its objectives - placing civilians at even greater risk.

We ask you, within your capacities as parliamentarians, to ensure and demand

accountability that:

• - 

  sufficient humanitarian aid is provided to the Palestinian civilian population;
• - 

  coordinated efforts among all actors guarantee this aid reaches all civilians safely;
• - 

  civilians, humanitarian workers, and facilities do not become targets of military action due to errors or lack of coordination; and
• - 

  humanitarian safe zones under no circumstances serve as a prelude to the forced relocation of the Palestinian civilian population from Gaza.

We also ask you to demand accountability regarding the progress of military

operations against Hamas and to discuss with the responsible political authorities the possibility of a unilateral humanitarian pause in order to alleviate the deterioration humanitarian situation.

Our partnership is rooted in shared values of democracy and humanity. We remain committed to working with you to uphold these principles while ensuring security for Israel, dignity for all civilians and humanity as a shared value in general.

Yours sincerely,

Hildegard Bentele, MEP

Chair Delegation for Relations with Israel

Bert-Jan Ruissen, MEP

Vice-Chair

Dan Nica, MEP

Vice-Chair