14.03.2025 14:12
MEP Marc Botenga reacted strongly to the laughter and joking of Minister Adam Szlapka, who represents the EU Council, during a session discussing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade. Botenga stated that Europe is behaving hypocritically, saying, "This is not funny. Palestinians are human beings too. You should be ashamed of yourselves, and this is characteristic of the EU."
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Marc Botenga reacted strongly to the joking of Minister Adam Szlapka, representing the Council of the European Union (EU), during the discussion in the European Parliament's General Assembly regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade. Botenga stated that this attitude is a complete scandal, showing the EU's hypocrisy towards the Palestinians.
"YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF"
Botenga, one of the most vocal MEPs in the European Parliament regarding Gaza, took the floor to speak during the session on Gaza. Noticing that the Polish Minister of European Affairs Szlapka, who is the rotating presidency of the EU Council, was laughing, Botenga said, "First of all, can I ask the Council to stop laughing? You were laughing while discussing how many Palestinians have died and continue to die of hunger. You are joking and laughing. This is not funny. Palestinians are human beings too. You should be ashamed of yourselves, and this is characteristic of the EU. Right now, you do not care about the Palestinians."
"YOU ARE SNICKERING OVER THERE"
Belgian MEP Botenga pointed out that Szlapka mentioned the deteriorating situation in Gaza at the beginning of the session on behalf of the Council, and continued:
"You managed to say that the situation is getting worse, but you did not talk about why it is worsening. Why is it worsening? Because Israel is blocking all humanitarian aid, all food, and even electricity. What does this mean? No electricity, no purification facilities, therefore no water. You are snickering over there. How can this be? How can there be such complicity in Europe and such disrespect for the lives of Palestinians? This needs to stop because you will regret it."
"SHOWING HOW HYPOCRITICAL EUROPE IS"
Botenga evaluated his reaction to Szlapka in a statement to reporters. Stating that "the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade was discussed in the General Assembly of the European Parliament," Botenga said, "Many members of the Parliament drew attention to the inhumane and criminal suffering imposed on the people, but in the midst of this extremely sensitive discussion, the representative of the EU Presidency, Polish Minister Adam Szlapka, started joking with his colleague. He was outright laughing during several speeches. Such contempt for human life, for Palestinians as human beings, is a complete scandal. (Szlapka's attitude) shows how hypocritical Europe is when it talks about universal human rights. Szlapka and his colleague should be deeply ashamed and apologize."