“The escalation of the Israeli army’s ground attack in Gaza with civilian casualties (among others in the Jambaliya refugee camp) and resulting in the rapid worsening of the humanitarian crisis, is unacceptable and condemnable,” SYRIZA PS emphasizes in a statement.

“It ignores UN calls for a humanitarian truce and exceeds the country’s right to self-defense against Hamas,” he adds.

The official opposition party notes that “Israeli operations that violate humanitarian law further plunge Palestinians and Israelis into the vicious cycle of violence, further distancing the two-state solution and increasing the risk of expanding the conflict in the wider region by involving and other countries”.

It underlines that “the EU must put an end to the passive observer attitude and promote a common position in favor of the initiatives of the UN Secretary General. He must, finally, rise to the occasion and actively claim ceasefire, protection of civilians, prevention of humanitarian crisis and release of hostages. With the ultimate goal of restarting the talks to end the occupation and the solution of two states that coexist peacefully, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem, the capital of the Palestinian State”.

SYRIZA argues that “instead of the Mitsotakis Government supporting this line and following the balanced stance of France, Spain, Portugal and many other countries, it is promoting a strategically wrong policy with dangerous ramifications for the country”. It states specifically that “in this context the Prime Minister:

– he only meets the Prime Minister of Israel and not the President of Palestine,

– states that “whatever happens, it must happen without great human cost” and that “a humanitarian ceasefire must be imposed when necessary”,

– does not condemn the death of civilians in the buildings of the Monastery of Agios Porphyrios,

and, above all, it is far from a UN resolution for a ceasefire”.

“Greece’s interest requires it to promote peace, stability and international law in its region. Not a one-dimensional foreign policy of the given ally, which acts against the interests and principles of our country. A policy that often brings shame to the Greek people”, notes SYRIZA.

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