Today, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Eerik-Niiles Kross, on behalf of 65 members of the Riigikogu, submitted for parliamentary proceedings a draft Statement that condemns Hamas terrorist attacks and the war started by Hamas against Israel.

In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu points out that there can be no justification for the murder of civilians, the taking of hostages and the attacking civilian objects, and underlines that according to the Nuremberg Charter, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances is a crime against peace.

According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu expresses its condolences to the State of Israel, its people and the relatives of the victims of the terrorist attack, and acknowledges the efforts made to free the hostages, as a result of which it has been possible to release part of the hostages. The Parliament also affirms in the draft Statement that the State of Israel has the right and the duty to defend itself until the end of the Hamas terrorist attacks, the release of all hostages and the capture of the planners and perpetrators of the 7 October massacre, so that terror against Israel and its people would not happen again.

In the draft Statement, the Parliament of Estonia expresses hope that Israel will achieve rapid success in its military and anti-terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip, and notes that it is of the utmost importance for the future of Israel and peace in the region to avoid civilian casualties in the ongoing operations and to comply with general international humanitarian law. According to the draft, the Riigikogu condemns all acts of violence against civilians, regardless of who committed it and what justifications they give, and calls on the Government of Israel and all parties of the conflict to do all they can to solve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu also expresses its concern about the anti-Semitic attacks and demonstrations that have taken place in Europe and elsewhere in Estonia’s allied countries, but especially in the Middle East and Russia, in recent months, and affirms that Estonia will not tolerate any justification of terrorism, manifestations of anti-Semitism or incitement of hatred on the basis of religion. “The Riigikogu expresses hope that Israel’s military self-defence actions against Hamas will achieve the goal it has repeatedly committed itself to in international treaties: the creation of an environment free of pressure, repressions and violence for peace negotiations between the legitimate representatives of the State of Israel and the Palestinian people,” the draft statement reads.

The Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss the sending of the draft Statement to the plenary assembly for debate and voting this afternoon.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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