On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the European Parliament convened a general session dedicated to the escalating violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, attended the session, which focused on the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli responses. The conflict, which has now extended to Lebanon and Hezbollah, dominated discussions, with many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressing concerns over the role of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and their ties to the Iranian regime.
During the session, MEPs called for diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and protect civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. However, several members also advocated for tougher sanctions on Iran, emphasizing the need to support Iranian opposition groups to restore stability in the region.
📍[IZ RAZPRAVE O SITUACIJI NA BLIŽNJEM VZHODU]
🎯V zadnjem letu je na Izrael priletelo 13.200 raket iz Gaze, 12.400 raket iz Libanona, 4.000 iz Irana, od tega več kot pol balističnih, 180 iz Jemna in 160 iz Sirije.
In potem pravite nekateri, da je Izrael agresor⁉️Pravi,… pic.twitter.com/v7GLGvmgry
— Milan Zver (@MilanZver) October 8, 2024
Milan Zver, a Slovenian MEP, was particularly vocal in condemning Iran’s role in intensifying the conflict. He criticized the Iranian regime’s support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and accused Tehran of perpetuating regional instability. Zver stated, “The Iranian regime is the true aggressor, promoting terrorist operations in the region and beyond.” He urged the European Union to impose new sanctions on Iran, place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU’s terrorist organization list, and support the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by Maryam Rajavi. He stressed that only through democracy in Iran could long-term peace and stability be achieved in the Middle East.
The session highlighted the growing urgency within the European Parliament to address the intertwined challenges of terrorism, regional conflict, and Iranian influence in the Middle East.