Paraglide Video Lands EU Diplomat In The Middle Of A Debate
A former EU envoy to Gaza, Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, has come under fire for allegedly empowering Hamas to use paragliders – the very same devices used by the terrorist group to carry out deadly attacks on Israel. In a video that resurfaced in July, von Burgsdorff can be seen taking a paragliding flight over Gaza, shouting “Free Palestine!” and claiming that Palestinians could do the same once they were free.
However, rather than seeing Palestinians enjoy the recreational activity as von Burgsdorff suggested, Hamas used the paragliders to invade Israel and carry out attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people. This has sparked outrage, with many condemning the former diplomat for promoting a dangerous idea and empowering Hamas.
Following the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,700 Palestinians since October 7, von Burgsdorff has continued to voice his opposition to Israel’s actions. In a recent radio interview, he criticized Israel for its airstrikes and claimed that it was using deadly force without distinction and proportionality against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
This EU envoy took to paragliding along the Gaza coast to bring focus to the blockaded Palestinian enclave ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/jss25kmpSY
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 19, 2023
However, the former diplomat did not acknowledge or condemn the attack carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7 that targeted innocent civilians, including women and children. The attack also involved the kidnapping of more than 200 people, including at least a dozen Americans. Instead, von Burgsdorff chose to focus solely on Israel’s response to the attack.
In response to the paragliding video, Israeli officials denounced it as “provocative” propaganda that only serves to empower Hamas. The Israeli Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that von Burgsdorff had forgotten his role as a representative of the EU and instead was promoting the Palestinian narrative and acting as a propaganda tool for terrorist organizations in Gaza.
The video shows von Burgsdorff taking to the skies over Gaza and promoting activities such as paragliding and kayaking that Palestinians could do if the blockade on Gaza was lifted. However, instead of promoting peaceful activities, the paraglider was ultimately used for nefarious purposes by Hamas.
The EU delegation to the Palestinians has confirmed that the paraglider used in the stunt belonged to von Burgsdorff. The former EU envoy left his position in Gaza in August, but he continues to speak out against Israel’s actions, most recently condemning its threats to bomb corridors and shipments carrying humanitarian equipment.
In conclusion, von Burgsdorff’s paragliding stunt has backfired, as it has been used by Hamas to carry out attacks on Israel. This has sparked criticism and condemnation of the former diplomat for empowering a terrorist organization. While von Burgsdorff continues to speak out against Israel, he has failed to acknowledge or condemn the actions of Hamas, raising questions about his impartiality and objectivity.