“One year on from the horrific Hamas attack on Israeli civilians and civilians of other nationalities, we reiterate our absolute condemnation of terrorism, commemorate those who lost their lives and solemnly call for the prompt release of the hostages still held in Gaza. The Hamas attack has caused immense suffering. We mourn all the innocent victims on both sides and call for an immediate ceasefire that would pave the way for a just and lasting peace, which the people of this region have long deserved.
This conflict has strained our democracies. Anti-Semitic acts have increased on an unprecedented scale, and acts of anti-Muslim hatred have also soared. Our societies are on the brink of dangerous divisions. In this explosive situation, we must welcome the remarkable action of our member states to block the road to extremes. Considering these challenging circumstances, Europe must unite around its democratic values.
The Council of Europe will not shy away from the dangers of extremism and will not accept hatred or fear. We will continue to fight resolutely against discrimination in all its forms. Like our founding fathers, we will stand firm and calm against the ideologies of hatred that undermine the very fabric of our societies. Then as now, we aspire to peace, reject violence and call for respect for our differences. We believe that living together in our democracies is more important today than ever before.”
