European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen made headlines on X with a statement addressing the situation in Palestine.

In her message, she wrote: “Today, Hamas terrorists have struck at the heart of Israel capturing and killing innocent women and children. Israel has the right to defend itself - today and in the days to come. The European Union stands with Israel.”

These comments immediately ignited strong reactions from several members of the European Parliament.

Mick Wallace, a European Parliament member, responded to her tweet, asserting: “The vast majority of the people of Europe do not support the brutal Apartheid State of #Israel - The vast majority of the people of Europe support the people of #Palestine who have been Persecuted + Terrorised by Israel for so many years - If only the #EU was a real democracy...” 

The vast majority of the people of Europe do not support the brutal Apartheid State of #Israel - The vast majority of the people of Europe support the people of #Palestine who have been Persecuted + Terrorised by Israel for so many years - If only the #EU was a real democracy... https://t.co/cKiwMPf1Yv

— Mick Wallace (@wallacemick) October 8, 2023

Similarly, Clare Daly, another member of the European Parliament, replied to von der Leyen, stating: “Who do you think you are? You're unelected, and have no authority to determine EU foreign policy, which is set by @EUCouncil. Europe does NOT "stand with Israel." We stand for peace. You do not speak for us. If you've nothing constructive to say, and you clearly don't, shut up.”

Who do you think you are? You're unelected, and have no authority to determine EU foreign policy, which is set by @EUCouncil. Europe does NOT "stand with Israel." We stand for peace. You do not speak for us. If you've nothing constructive to say, and you clearly don't, shut up. https://t.co/9uEklDIIiE

— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) October 8, 2023

Operation Aqsa Typhoon orchestrated by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, is now on its second consecutive day, a response to the Israeli Occupation's transgressions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The count of Israeli Occupation soldiers and settlers killed by Palestinian resistance gunfire and missiles has reached 700 as of Sunday evening.

In Gaza and the West Bank, the number of Palestinians killed in the operation reached 378.