On Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and the EU response

B90240/2024

European Parliament resolution on Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and the EU response

(2024/2704(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Articles 2(4) and 51 thereof,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Hamas launched a brutal attack against Israel in the early morning of 7 October 2023;

B. whereas the consequences of this attack have spilled over into the region and further destabilised the Middle East; whereas Israel has warned other countries not to get involved in the conflict;

C. whereas Iran launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on 13 April 2024, citing the bombing on 1 April 2024 of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, during which several commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed, as the underlying reason for the air strike; whereas missiles and drones were also launched from Iraq, Syria and Yemen; whereas numerous missiles and drones were intercepted by Israel, the US, the UK and Jordan; whereas France also assisted in patrolling the airspace;

D. whereas US officials have confirmed that Israel carried out military operations against Iran on 19 April 2024;

E. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the IRGC to be classified as a terrorist organisation;

1. Condemns, in the strongest terms, the unprecedented attack by Iran, during which Iran’s IRGC launched more than 300 drones and missiles in an air strike against Israel; further condemns Iran’s current and historical track record of using proxies to carry out its political and military objectives;

2. Reiterates its condemnation of Hamas’ brutal terror attack of 7 October 2023 against Israel, which was the catalyst for the current conflict; reiterates, furthermore, its calls on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all Israeli hostages;

3. Recalls that Israel is a sovereign state and reaffirms Israel’s right of existence; underlines that Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks by state and non-state actors alike;

4. Calls for restraint and a de-escalation of the conflict to prevent further destabilisation in the region, which would further undermine the results achieved by the Abraham Accords that normalised diplomatic relations and led to a new form of regional economic and political cooperation in the Middle East; calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliaments of the Member States and the Governments of Israel and of Iran.