During the ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) held in New Delhi, European Union Vice-President Nicola Beer took the opportunity to address a range of significant international issues, including the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Expressing her condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians, Beer emphasized the profound shock these acts of violence have sent throughout the world. She described these attacks as stark manifestations of unimaginable hatred and brutality, noting that they target innocent people and seriously disrupt our collective sense of security and trust. Moreover, she underscored that it is evident that Hamas garners support, including government backing. In response to this, Beer stressed the imperative need to cease all forms of support to Hamas, encompassing both political and financial aid.
It is important to mention that these remarks were delivered in the context of a series of attacks on Israel perpetrated by Hamas militants, events that have recently reignited tensions in the region.Â
Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also seized the opportunity to address the Israel-Hamas conflict in his presentation during the summit. PM Modi articulated a strong stance against terrorism in all its manifestations and underscored the need for global unity, peace, and fraternity in order to make progress together. He emphasized that conflicts and confrontations, wherever they occur, affect people worldwide and serve no one's interests. He advocated for a human-centric approach to moving forward.
Furthermore, in her speech, Beer delved into another protracted global conflict: the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has extended over a year. She highlighted the broad-ranging repercussions of this conflict, extending beyond Ukraine's territorial boundaries. Ukrainians' courageous struggle for freedom and the international rule-based order were commended.
Beer also touched upon the consequences of this conflict on global food security. She underscored that the Russian invasion led to a substantial grain shortage, resulting in inflation within the African continent's food supply. As a matter of fact, she drew attention to the fact that food prices have continued to rise in four out of five countries worldwide due to the repercussions of the Russian invasion.
It is noteworthy that the Russian delegation was also present at this summit where these critical issues were discussed.
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