On the events in Palestine, on the anniversary of October 7th

Exactly one year ago, a Hamas attack in Israel claimed the lives of hundreds of people, most of which civilians, while 240 were taken hostage. What followed was a horrific cycle of retaliatory violence that continues to this day with no end in sight, and is now expanding into Lebanon.

While October7th marked a significant escalation, we believe it is of utter importance to acknowledge that the roots of the conflict run much deeper, extending far beyond that single event. As we did in our statement from October 2023, we reiterate our call for the upholding of international law as the only long-lasting solution that will bring security to the Israelis and dignity to the Palestinian people, once and for all. We also call for an immediate ceasefire and for hostages on both sides to be returned to their families.

We believe that, in such stark global circumstances, the European socio-cultural sector has both the power and the responsibility to be an actor of change, by encouraging peaceful dialogue, promoting information and awareness, upholding and celebrating freedom of expression, and providing a platform for artists and civil society actors to speak out.