Ceasefire Now - Bacik’s call at Congress of the Party of European Socialists

Addressing a plenary session of the annual Congress of the Party of European Socialists in Málaga today (Friday, 10th November), Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD called on European Socialist and Social Democratic parties to unite in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza to end mounting civilian casualties.

Speaking on the Leading Economic Progress panel, Deputy Bacik said:

“As Europeans and as Social Democrats, we must discuss matters like economic progress through the prism of a multiplicity of crises.

“Having come through the pandemic, the immediate shock of Brexit, and as we continue to work to take strong climate action, unfortunately, our attention must now also turn to war and civilian loss of life.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who have now suffered due to the horrific invasion by Putin’s regime in Russia since February 2022. More recently, we have learned of the awful killing of civilians in Israel and in Palestine.

“The Party of European Socialists (PES) must condemn Hamas and call for the unconditional release of all hostages. Furthermore, the PES must call for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the bombardment of Gaza by the State of Israel. More than 10,000 people have now been killed since 7th October, including more than 4,000 children. There can be no delay in calling for an immediate end to the violence to prevent this unthinkable humanitarian disaster from worsening.

“Since 7th October, international laws have clearly been breached by both Hamas and Israel. A new study into death rates confirms that the civilian death rate in Israeli airstrikes is higher than in past conflicts - each recorded fatal Israeli airstrike on Gaza since 7 October has caused an average of 10.1 civilian deaths.

"That is why this war must stop. It is why there can be no equivocation.

“The only way to achieve any resolution to this humanitarian catastrophe is for immediate de-escalation, through regional and international diplomacy. In line with UN Security Council Resolutions - spearheaded by former PES Prime Minister, António Guterres - lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to the two-state solution that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty.”