Israel: The Left in the European Parliament: “Free Hussam Abu Safiya”

From our correspondent in Strasbourg – “Free Hussam Abu Safiya!” In the European Parliament, Irish MEP Lynn Boylen (The Left) demonstrates that the case of the Palestinian doctor, who has become a symbol of Israel’s annihilation of Palestine, has not been consigned to oblivion. In the Strasbourg Chamber, which once again brings to the fore familiar divisions and conflicts, and long-standing debates over sanctions that have never been imposed or are yet to be imposed, there are those who still give attention to the case of a man “arbitrarily arrested by Israel since December 2024,” denounces the Irish MEP, who points the finger at Benjamin Netanyahu’s government: “Hussam Abu Safiya has been beaten, he has been tortured, and his life is at risk.” She then addresses the Commission and Member States: “The European Union must take urgent action to ensure the immediate release of Hussam Abu Safiya.”

Boylen’s speech forms part of the debate initiated by the Socialist Group on the situation in Gaza and the reconstruction that must follow. So far, the story of Abu Safiya has been carried out by non-governmental organisations and has been virtually absent from the political debate. The radical left-wing politician aims to include his story in the list of what the EU, she argues, should do in response to the Jewish state’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Boylen denounces the “genocide” currently taking place and calls for “the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement,” alongside “sanctions” against the Netanyahu government and its members, “full support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees” (UNRWA), and compensation for “1.50 million in EU infrastructure funded by taxpayers’ money, for which Israel has not yet paid a single cent.” 

On the subject of compensation, in a virtually deserted chamber, the Spanish Socialist Nacho Sanchez Amor (S&D) believes it is necessary and right for the EU to “demand the same from Israel as it does from Russia.” This means that if Moscow must pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction, then Tel Aviv “must pay to rebuild Gaza.”

According to Danilo Della Valle (M5S/the Left), “there is only one thing to be done to save the Union’s dignity” in the face of “Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people,” namely “to suspend the cooperation agreement with Israel.” This call has also been made by Abir Al-Sahlani, an MEP for the European Liberals (RE), and is in line with the a similar call from the Socialists. 

Amid the convergence of socialists, liberals, and the radical left in favour of a tough and decisive stance against the current Israeli administration, there has also been a direct attack on the European Commission. First up is Yannis Maniatis (S&D), who criticises the EU executive for attending the meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace: “It was a mistake to go; the Commission had no mandate. The visit should have been cancelled.” Irene Montero (Podemos/The Left) adds fuel to the fire, personally attacking the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, for representing the College at the debate: “Commissioner, does President Trump have your phone number? Does he ring you on as it does with the FIFA president? Does he ring you to ask you to support genocide?” 

The EPP is not taking the debate well, with Antonio Lopez Isturiz criticising the initiative and linking it to the difficulties faced by Pedro Sánchez’s government in Spain: “This sort of debate crops up every time there’s a problem in Spain,” he argues, describing the discussion, against which he uses harsh language, as “fruitless.” “I haven’t heard a word yet about Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran,” he presses, lending support to the far-right sovereigntist camp. “Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, surrounded by millions of Muslims,” emphasises the Austrian Harald Vilimisky (FPO/PfE). Even from the benches of the Conservatives (ECR), the debate shifts to Israel’s role and its responsibilities. “The reconstruction of Gaza must take place alongside the dismantling of terrorist structures,” argues Alberico Gambino (FdI), in a clear reference to Hamas and in a context where right-wing parties are adopting an anti-Palestinian stance.