The Palestinian Ambassador to Cyprus, Abdallah Attari, has sharply criticised the European Union for its delayed reaction to what he termed a genocide unfolding in Gaza, questioning why European countries waited until 60,000 civilians had been killed before responding.
Attari highlighted that 700,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped onto a densely populated area of just 365 square kilometres, home to 2.3 million people.
In a strongly worded statement, Ambassador Attari expressed deep frustration: “I find it difficult or even shameful to express thanks to any country because this is a decision that came dramatically late. It was almost like a response to a genocide still unfolding after 18 months. Should we say thank you for the obvious?”
Attari specifically thanked Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou, praising him as the only figure in the European Parliament brave enough to publicly label the situation in Gaza a “genocide.”
While acknowledging that the EU decision represents a slight movement towards justice, Attari criticised it as insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe or effectively challenge Israel’s policies, which he described as apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and systematic displacement.
He stated, “Without diminishing the importance of this move, it is a fact that this decision is below what is required. For the first time, some European countries are moving in the right direction and defending international law. However, this decision, positive though it is, cannot match the scale of the crime being committed in Gaza.”
The ambassador pointed out provocative actions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referencing a map of “Greater Israel” displayed at the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2023 that omitted Palestinian territories. Attari also cited Israeli Minister Smotrich, who presented a similar expansionist map in France, extending even into Jordan.
Ambassador Attari underlined the rising numbers of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank—from 120,000 in 1993 to over 800,000 today—as clear evidence of Israeli obstruction of the two-state solution originally envisaged by the Oslo Accords. He emphasised that Palestinians had already compromised significantly by accepting only 22% of their historic homeland for their independent state, comprising the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
Expressing further disappointment, Attari drew comparisons between Europe’s decisive responses to conflicts such as Ukraine and its passive stance towards Gaza, asking, “Are the children of Gaza less innocent than the children of Ukraine? Or do they deserve less attention and sensitivity because they do not have blue eyes and white skin?”
Ambassador Attari concluded by referencing former Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who admitted feeling betrayed by Netanyahu’s actions despite her pro-Israeli stance, underscoring the need for genuine justice and truth rather than symbolic gestures.
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