The Party of European Socialists (PES) stands with the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who took to the streets on Sunday to demand a ceasefire deal to end the violence and bring the remaining hostages taken by Hamas home. Mass demonstrations took place in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel, and were followed on Monday by a general strike backed by trade unionists.
The PES is horrified by the continued high human toll of the war. A further six hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks on Israel were found dead in a tunnel complex in Gaza on Saturday. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, with a further 92,000 inured and over 85% of the population displaced from their homes as a result of the war.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“We are appalled by the deaths of six more hostages taken by Hamas and the tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Palestine – among them children, women and the elderly – caused by Israel’s military operations. We stand with all hostages and victims and reiterate our demand for a sustainable ceasefire that puts an end to this violence. All hostages must be allowed to return safely to their loved ones.
“The demonstrations in Israel are a clear sign. Israelis want to find a solution and are pressuring Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government to reach a deal with Hamas. The Netanyahu government must listen to citizens and work to close this dark chapter of violence.”
PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
“We continue to support initiatives leading towards a sustainable ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages. It is the only way to address the current crisis and set the ground for an international peace conference, with all major players involved, that can achieve an equitable two-state solution that respects the rights and duties of the two peoples. We will continue working with our progressive parties in the region to achieve this.”
In December, the PES sent a delegation to the Middle East – which visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be’eri, and Ramallah – for high-level meetings with key leaders.
The PES has stressed the need to reach a lasting political solution to the conflict based on a two-state solution, as set out in the PES 2023 Congress resolution. The PES has long advocated for a two-state solution.
