The outgoing Federal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal) and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (photo above) were among those that attended a memorial event to mark the anniversary of the attack by Hamas on southern Israel. The memorial took place at the Great Synagogue Europe in Brussels on Monday evening.
Outgoing Federal PM and European Commission President attend memorial 7 October attack victims
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The memorial service that was organised by the Jewish Central Consistory of Belgium began at around 7.45 pm. The Great Synagogue was full to capacity and several of those present even had to stand as all the seats were taken.
After an introduction by the President the Central Consistory Philippe Markiewicz, the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen addressed Belgium's Jewish community. She said that “It is time to stop the bloodshed and end the cycle of violence in the region. Our thoughts are with the 101 hostages who are still in captivity today, with their families and with the victims of the terrible events of 7 October”.
Ms Von der Leyen said she still hoped that by the beginning of next year “the violence will end, the hostages will return home, and peace and security will prevail in Israel as well as in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon”.
The European Commission President’s speech was followed by speeches from Idit Rosenzweig-Abu and Haim Regev, the Israeli ambassadors to Belgium and the European Union. “We don't want this war at all,” Ms Rosenzweig-Abu. “We are tired of this and all other wars. But Israel will not stop until the hostages are back home, and Hamas is no longer operating on our borders.”
Hundreds remember the Palestinian and Lebanese victims of the conflict
Around 500 people gathered at the Brussels Stock Exchange on Tuesday evening to remember the Palestinian and Lebanese victims of the violence in the Middle East. From 8 pm candles lit up the steps outside stock exchange building. Those present chanted “Free, free Palestine”.A minute's silence was then observed.