Boycotting Hamas was mistake: Head of International Peace Institute

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) - Boycotting Hamas is a mistake and an elected government deserves the minimum of respect, according to the head of the International Peace Institute.

Hannes Swoboda, who was also the group leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament from 2012 - 2014, answered Anadolu’s questions Thursday about the humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip after Oct. 7 and the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Swoboda said what happened in the Gaza Strip was a great disaster and he had visited the region many times in past years but pessimism prevailed in the city. "I hope that lessons can be learned from the disasters. It is important for the Palestinians living in Gaza to make their own decisions regarding life, development, economic development and politics,” he said.

He said the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas conflict are two different issues and should not be compared.

"The actions of Hamas on Oct. 7 have unfortunately created a terrible image, at least in the West, but this doesn't justify the massively Israeli bombardment," he said.

Swoboda said to limit marginal groups, the West should convince Israel to provide Palestinians with the opportunity to establish their own state.

"But not by bombing them, but by telling them: You have rights too," said Swoboda. "As decided in the United Nations-apportionment plan, there must be two states. An Israeli, Jewish state and a Palestinian state."

The formula is the only way out, he said.

Pointing out that the West did not strongly call for a humanitarian cease-fire regarding the humanitarian drama in Gaza, Swoboda said some Western countries supported the call for a humanitarian cease-fire, but his own country, Austria, stood back on this issue, and that the basic psychology underlying this was “during the Second World War." He said it was "a feeling of guilt about the Holocaust."

Arguing that Hamas and Israel should be held responsible for the deaths in the region, Swoboda noted that Europe should take stronger approaches to end the situation.

Swoboda said the suffering of the Palestinians, although not at the same level as that of the Israelis, found coverage in Austrian media but politicians remained in the background due to concerns about the increase of anti-Semitism.

"In my personal opinion, the suffering of the Palestinians should be brought to the forefront more strongly than has been done so far. (Politicians) have an obligation to put pressure on Israel, especially the current right-wing nationalist government, for a cease-fire. And especially right now, there is an obligation to help the Palestinians," he said, adding that "a plan must be reached and the Palestinians must be helped to establish their own state."

Referring to the criticism that the US and Europe gave unlimited and unconditional support to Israel after Oct. 7, Swoboda stated that he did not think unlimited support was given, and what was talked about behind closed doors and what was shared with the public were not always the same.

In an article he wrote in 2018, Swoboda stated that he considered the West's boycott of the democratically-elected Hamas a big mistake and said he still holds the same opinion.

Stating that at that time, he and some members of the European Parliament met with political representatives elected within Hamas but not from the extremist wing of the formation, Swoboda said: "If a government is elected, at least the other party should be shown minimum respect and given the opportunity to speak, even if only a little."

"The interesting thing is that Israel, and above all (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, constantly negotiated with Hamas,” he said. "It was a big mistake not to try to involve Hamas in the process when it still had pragmatic intentions, or at least to make sure that ministers who did not come from radical circles and were elected on the Hamas list were drawn to the side of the European negotiators."

Swoboda emphasized that the path to a solution is not through the occupation of lands for security reasons, as Israel suggests, and that this will only continue the conflict and has no future.

Expressing his desire for Türkiye to play a major role in the crisis, Swoboda said although Türkiye is a country that criticizes Israel, it has not completely severed its diplomatic relations with Israel, established some contacts before Oct 7 and has a certain sympathy toward Hamas.

Swoboda noted that Türkiye could play a major role in contributing to the solution and said: "I would like to touch upon an issue I mentioned before. Türkiye should be an important ally for the EU because Türkiye has relations and opportunities that the EU does not have. This can be seen in the Ukraine incident."

"For me, Türkiye is an important ally to ensure stability and peace from Ukraine to Azerbaijan-Armenia, Israel-Gaza."

On the future of the Gaza Strip, which has been destroyed by Israeli attacks, Swoboda said: "The renewed occupation of a region and the renewed displacement of people will be completely counterproductive. I hope the US is smart enough, and the European Union also, that this will definitely not happen, that occupying a region again will definitely not happen."

Swoboda added: "There must be a regulation in which Gazans can determine their own political representatives and administration. Then, a way must be found to ensure peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state, in cooperation with neighboring countries and with the mediation of Turkey."

*Writing by Timo Kirez