On the occasion of October 7, the President of FIR, Vilmos Hanti, distributed the following political message: 

As President of FIR, I stand firmly for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, to a homeland of their own, to freedom, and to a life of dignity. Their suffering, the destruction of their homes, and their mass displacement place a moral and political responsibility upon the international community that it cannot evade. I believe that solidarity derives its credibility from an accurate presentation of the facts, the consistent defence of universal human rights, and an unequivocal commitment to a peaceful resolution.
Many rightly emphasis that the conflict did not begin on 7 October 2023. I agree. We cannot understand these events without acknowledging the displacement of Palestinians, the occupation, settlement policies, and the denial of their right to self-determination. Yet an examination of the historical context can never excuse deliberate attacks on civilians, their murder, or their abduction as hostages. I unequivocally condemn such acts by Hamas and other armed groups. With equal determination, I reject the use of these crimes to justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian population. The suffering of one people can never justify violating the rights of another.
Some infer deliberate complicity from the failures of Israeli intelligence and political leadership before the attack. I consider a full investigation into responsibility essential. However, failure to act, disregard of warnings, and deliberate complicity are distinct allegations. Serious accusations must rest on sound evidence. We must not present presumed intentions as established facts, however firmly we hold our political convictions.
The decisions of the Israeli government and military leadership warrant rigorous scrutiny. Responsibility, however, must be attributed to specific decisions and actions, and to those who directed them. The collective stigmatisation of an entire people is unacceptable. Israeli society also includes those who oppose the war and defend Palestinian rights. Just as the Palestinian people cannot be equated with Hamas, Israelis cannot be equated with the policies of their government. I reject antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, and any discrimination that denies people equal dignity on the grounds of their origin.
Reports on casualties and the extent of destruction must clearly identify their sources, the dates to which they refer, and precisely what their figures represent. Such care is part of the respect we owe the victims. Reliably documented suffering is itself sufficient to demand action; unsubstantiated claims are unnecessary.
Many draw attention to the economic interests behind the war and the profits anticipated from arms production and reconstruction. These interests must be examined, and any connections that give political or commercial actors a vested interest in the continuation of destruction must be exposed. I do not, however, consider it well-founded to reduce the entire conflict to a single economic explanation. Territorial domination, nationalism, religious extremism, security policy decisions, and the pursuit of political survival must also be scrutinised.
Disappointment at the limited effectiveness of international institutions is understandable. Nevertheless, I disagree with the claim that diplomacy, appeals to the United Nations, or recourse to international justice are futile. Public protest must press for concrete decisions and strengthen legal accountability. Peace requires civic engagement, diplomatic pressure, humanitarian assistance, and the consistent application of international law.
I call for a lasting ceasefire, the protection of civilians, unimpeded humanitarian access, the prevention of forced displacement, the release of hostages, and an end to all unlawful detention. I support independent investigations into alleged war crimes and other grave violations, and accountability for those responsible, regardless of which side committed them.
We need a political settlement that ends the occupation, secures the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and enables both Palestinians and Israelis to live in freedom and security.
My antifascist and humanist convictions rest upon the universality of human dignity. My solidarity with the Palestinian and Jewish peoples springs from this principle. It also obliges me to insist that every civilian victim deserves our compassion, and that every perpetrator must be judged by the same moral and legal standards.

International Federation of Resistants Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists

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