EU Increases Security Amid Hamas-Israel Conflict and Rising Militant Attacks

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Amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas militants, France, along with other European Union (EU) countries, remains on high alert. Rising concerns of militant attacks have been met with insistence from the EU ministers for more robust screening and expulsion of migrants that pose potential security risks. This conversation among ministers follows the wake of murders by suspected Islamist militants that tragically took the lives of a teacher in France and two Swedish nationals in Brussels.

Beyond these reported incidents, the war between Israel and Hamas has set police forces across Europe on high alert. In France, the echoes of this growing security concern were palpable as President Emmanuel Macron attended the funeral of the teacher, Dominique Bernard, who was fatally stabbed at a school last week. The solemn service occurred in the northern city of Arras where Macron personally met with the bereaved family.


The slain teacher was posthumously awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian decoration. Known for his kind heart and quiet demeanor, Bernard lost his life in the struggle to confront the attacker. He leaves behind a grieving wife and three children.

The alleged perpetrator, 20-year-old Mohamed Mogouchkov, is of Russian nationality and Chechen origin. Arrested and charged with murder and terrorism, he was identified by witnesses who heard him shout “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest), during the ghastly attack. As a former student at the school where the incident occurred, he was known for his extremist language and was already under the watch of security services. Several members of his family have since been apprehended.

As a response, EU migration commissioner Ylva Johansson, during a ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, called for more efficient actions. She advised for the closing of legal loopholes, quicker decisions, and immediate deportations of those deemed a threat to the citizens of Europe.

However, an attack on two Swedish football fans in Brussels has brought to focus the failures of the EU’s migration and asylum systems. This unfortunate event saw a Tunisian gunman, Abdesalem Lassoued, eliminated by police forces following the brutal murders.

Amid an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Europe continues to tighten up on security concerns. Italy has imposed border controls with Slovenia due to concerns related to national security and irregular migration, with Slovenia imposing similar measures on its borders with Croatia and Hungary. Other EU member countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, have also implemented checks to counteract people-smuggling. The escalating conflict has stirred up fears of potential threats, leading to the reinforcement of security measures and migrations controls across the continent.