I find myself compelled to once more speak of the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.
No party involved in an armed conflict is above international law. International law sets clear rules on, proportionality, and precautions in attack.
The intentional killing, injuring, or tormenting of civilians is illegal, and rightly so. October 7th was a tragedy. And once more, in our condemnation of violence, we must also recognise the toll of the brutal response that has ensued, a tragedy of unbelievable proportions.
The numbers tell the story on their own – hunger, displacement, and a crumbling humanitarian system afflict more than 1.7 million people in Gaza right now.
The people of Gaza, deserve a chance at a life beyond this perpetual cycle of suffering.
The international community must work to ensure rapid, safe, and sustained humanitarian access throughout the region, and the end of the campaign on Gaza, that makes both Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza, unsafe, as some cling to power in Jerusalem; instead of prioritising the safety of all people in the region.
For the survivors of this conflict, the pain will endure. But they must survive first. The hostages in Gaza, the millions of innocent trapped in the crossfire: None are safe right now.
The international community must not turn a blind eye; we must do what we can to influence the possibility for peace, and then for reconstruction.
We must, now, urgently, engage in constructive dialogue about the future, so that there may be a future.
What can the future for Palestinians look like? We must break free from the shackles of conflict and envision a future where stability and coexistence prevail.
Right now, the members states of the European Union, must assist Israel, not by disengaging, but by insisting it complies with international law. To protect further loss of life in this conflict, and ensure long-term possibilities of peace are possible. We all know the task of achieving lasting peace in the region is Herculean, but as I’ve said before, we’ve got to be able to talk about it, we simply can’t ignore what is happening.
Ensuring Israel’s safety should not be pursued at the expense of innocent lives in Gaza.
I pray that those still alive will live.
I pray that no more lives are lost.
What number of deaths will make us all say, enough?
The military campaign today, is not setting up a peaceful future neither for Israelis neither for Palestinians.
To my Israeli friends: Which Jew, which Israeli wants to continue living in fear of rockets, and terrorism for the next century? None that I know.
To my Palestinian friends: Which Muslim and which Palestinian wants to continue living in fear of rockets, and terrorism for the next century? None that I know.
We must work for peace. Now.
Christos Floros 