Telephone communication with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas the Prime Minister had in the afternoon Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Prime Minister expressed his strong concern on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the need for a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Prime Minister repeated the message he also addressed to the Summit for Peace in Cairo to condemn the terrorist attacks of October 7 and Greece’s position that Hamas is a terrorist organization and does not represent the Palestinian people.

The Prime Minister underlined that the only legal representative of the Palestinian people is the Palestinian Authority. Highlight her long-term support of Greece to the two-state solution, and emphasized that only a political solution on this basis can guarantee peace between Israelis and Palestinians and stability in the region.

“Only one political solution will be able to create conditions of long-term peace in the area» the Prime Minister emphasized earlier from Brussels. He pointed out that “It is our duty to ensure that this conflict does not escalate into uncontrollable proportions. and influence the Middle East».

Mr. Mitsotakis stated that Greece’s position has four central points: Israel has the right to legitimate self-defense, a humanitarian corridor should be opened and there should be a “humanitarian pause”, the conflict should not be extended, and that Greece remains firmly committed to a two-state solution.

He also made it clear again that Hamas is a terrorist organization and does not represent the Palestinian people.

It was preceded last Monday by the Prime Minister’s meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

In detail, the Prime Minister’s statement upon his arrival at the Synod

“The European Council is being held at an extremely critical juncture for developments in the wider Middle East. Greece’s position, which will be reflected even today, is very clear and can be summarized in four central points.

Firstly, Israel has the right to lawful self-defense, always in accordance with International and Humanitarian Law. It received a terrorist attack of unprecedented ferocity and obviously has an obligation to react to protect the safety of its citizens.

Secondly, we attach great importance to the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded today in the Gaza Strip. And that’s why I think it’s absolutely imperative to open humanitarian corridors and, if this is necessary, to exist and a “humanitarian pause”, so that civilians can be protected, that necessary supplies can reach those who are currently crushed in the millstones of this conflict, and that we can protect as many human lives as possible.

I won’t get tired of saying it, Hamas is a terrorist organization and does not express the just demands of the Palestinian people.

Third point: it is our duty to ensure that this conflict does not escalate into uncontrollable proportions and influence the Middle East.

Fourth point: Greece remains firmly committed to a two-state solution to address the Palestinian problem. Only, in the end, a political solution will be able to create conditions for long-term peace in the area. In fact, this afternoon, I will have the opportunity to speak by phone with President Abbas and convey to him the standing positions of Greek foreign policy.

Now, in addition to the issues of the Middle East, we will also be concerned at the beginning of our session with the review of the European Union’s budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework. Greece comes to this discussion with crystallized positions, which are perfectly coordinated with the proposal of the European Commission.

We are absolutely positive that 50 billion will be disbursed to support Ukraine, but at the same time we urge that resources for immigration be increased. Greece is a country of first reception and needs more European support to deal with the immigration problem. But at the same time the resources for the Solidarity Fund of the European Union should be increased. Greece was tested by natural disasters this summer and it is absolutely clear that the European Union has not allocated sufficient resources to be able to support countries affected by the climate crisis. That is why a budget boost will be needed to finance this Fund.

End, I want to make a special mention of the meeting of European central bankers that took place in Greece. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak to the European central bankers and present the very important progress that Greece has made over the years.

Let me talk about the investment level we have achieved and the fact that everyone recognizes this huge effort of the country to escape from the difficult years and become a champion in European development.

This effort is not the effort of one government alone. It is a total effort of the Greek people, so it was also welcomed by Ms. Lagarde. And this gives us strength to be able to continue with even greater speed the necessary reforms, in order to converge even faster with the European Union, to improve the disposable income of Greek citizens, so that we can all, all and all Greeks look the future with more optimism”.