Greece’s foreign minister, George Gerapetritis, stated that Israel is not facing sufficient pressure to end the war in Gaza and warned that the escalation in Lebanon poses a significant challenge for the international community.Gerapetritis emphasized the importance of a unified approach from both Arab and European nations, rather than fragmented efforts that could influence Israel. He noted that the recent escalation at the Israel-Lebanon border reflects a collective failure by the international community.
Kabul 24: Greece secured a position on the United Nations Security Council for the term of 2025-2026 earlier this year. Athens believes the country’s historical ties with the Arab world and Israel give it credibility to act as a peace broker.“It seems that there is no effective pressure upon Israel. We are friends of Israel, and we’re strategic partners of Israel, and we’re trying to be as open and sincere with them,” Gerapetritis told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Greece’s Stance on the Gaza Conflict
Greece condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel but has called for a halt to Israel’s ground and air assault on Gaza that Palestinian authorities say has killed more than 41,000 people and flattened whole cities.“The truth is that at the moment there is a continuous, very strong reaction on the part of Israel,” Gerapetritis said after a meeting with European Union and Arab foreign ministers.
Concerns Over Lebanon Escalation
Gerapetritis warned that Lebanon could easily become a zone of tremendous hostility, posing a challenge that the international community may not be able to deal with.“We have not prevented the spillover, and the more dispersed the war becomes, the more the situation becomes more complicated to be solved,” he said. “It’s a clear minefield.”
Greece’s Initiative to Support Gaza Children
Since June, Greece has been seeking to convince member states in Europe to join a project to temporarily bring children hurt and traumatized by war in Gaza to the European Union.Gerapetritis said those talks, along with logistical coordination with Palestinians and Israelis, were ongoing and he hoped they would bear fruit soon. He said Greece could take in some 500 children for its part.
