Polish MEP ejected from chamber following ‘Jewish genocide’ remark

During parliamentary Holocaust commemorations in Brussels, MEP Grzegorz Braun urged attendees to offer a prayer for individuals who lost their lives in Gaza. Read Full Article at RT.com

Polish MEP ejected from chamber following ‘Jewish genocide’ remark
During Holocaust commemorations at the European Parliament, Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun called for a prayer for those killed in Gaza. His remarks were made during a moment of silence honoring Holocaust victims on Wednesday, leading to his prompt removal from the chamber by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

In October 2023, following Hamas's attack on Israeli territory—which resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 people and the taking of 240 hostages—West Jerusalem initiated a significant military operation in Gaza. By the time a ceasefire was established earlier this month, the Israel Defense Forces' actions had reportedly resulted in at least 46,000 deaths in the Palestinian enclave, according to local health authorities controlled by Hamas.

After his ejection from the commemorative ceremony observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Braun asserted in a post on X that he had not intended to “disturb” the event but rather to “supplement” it.

This incident has drawn sharp condemnation from numerous lawmakers, including members from Poland.

The European Jewish Congress criticized Braun’s actions as a “vile display of antisemitism in the heart of European democracy” in a statement on X.

Braun previously garnered attention in December 2023 for extinguishing Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher during a ceremony at the Polish parliament. He stated, “there can be no place for the acts of this racist, tribal, wild Talmudic cult on these premises.”

In December 2023, Irish MEP Clare Daly of the left-wing Independents 4 Change party accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of supporting a “brutal apartheid regime that she calls a ‘vibrant democracy.’”

Earlier, Spanish Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra criticized Brussels for its inaction amid what she termed “genocide” in Gaza.

While several EU member states took symbolic actions to support Palestinians, including recognizing their state, Von der Leyen has remained a strong advocate for Israel.

In November 2023, the Turkish Foreign Ministry remarked on the EU’s position, stating that “policies based on universal values, international law, and humanitarian principles cannot be limited to Ukraine… but must be pursued universally, including in the Middle East.”

Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News