Hostage Aid Worldwide and EU Watch Host a Delegation in Brussels


Hostage Aid Worldwide (HAW), in collaboration with EU Watch, recently hosted a delegation of former hostages, including Shoshan Haran former Israeli-German hostage in Gaza, as well as families of current EU hostages and unlawful detainees including, Noemie Kohler, Vida Djalali, Mariam Claren, and Betlehem Isaak. 

The EU Hostage Alliance Delegation convened in Brussels, Belgium, on July 10th and 11th, 2024, where they met with EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans, European Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, and European External Action Service (EEAS) Managing Director for Middle East and North Africa Hélène Le Gal.

Members of the Delegation with EU Special Representative Sven Koopmans

The delegation urged the European Union to adopt a unified approach to hostage-taking in meetings with Swedish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Evin Incir, Belgian Member of Parliament Darya Safai, Cabinet Member Philip Holzapfel, German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, and French Ambassador Mathilde Félix-Paganon.

They initiated discussions on forming a Parliamentary Working Group on Hostages and laid the groundwork for a European Multistakeholder Forum aimed at dismantling the hostage business model. Their efforts highlight the urgent need for a coordinated action plan by EU officials against hostage-taking to mitigate the use of EU hostages as political bargaining chips. 

On July 11th, the delegation organized an EU panel discussion hosted by German MEP Monika Hohlmeier, with Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev as the keynote speaker. The alliance subsequently issued a Letter of Recommendation to the EU, outlining the possible action plans to address hostage-taking.

Members of the Delegation in a Meeting with EEAS Officials

The Brussels Times published an article by Swedish journalist Mose Apelblat, emphasizing the urgency of a unified EU approach. Apelbat also raised the issue of stronger EU rules to combat hostage-taking during the European Commission midday press briefing on July 12th. Additionally, Le Monde, one of Europe’s leading newspapers, published an article calling for a unified EU approach to hostage-taking and highlighting HAW’s mission and dedication.

Hostage Aid Worldwide remains committed to fighting for the release of foreign and dual-national hostages and will continue to do its utmost to disrupt the hostage-taking business model.

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