Israel’s allies must tell “hard truths” about its “aggressive” military response against Hamas as European countries show growing concern about the “proportionality” of retaliation in Gaza, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on the Politico podcast “Power Play” earlier this week.

“While we recognize that Israel has the right to defend itself, how it does so is really important and matters a lot,” Mitsotakis said.

While the EU has been supporting Israel since the beginning of its counter-offensive following the violent attack by Hamas on October 7, member states expressed “an increased concern at the suffering of innocent civilians and at the horrific scenes that followed outside Gaza,” he said. Mr. Mitsotakis.

“As Israel continues with this very, very aggressive military campaign, yes, there will be increased concern about the proportionality of the Israeli response,” he said. “I speak as a friend of Israel,” he added. “And I think sometimes friends have to tell hard truths to friends.”

Without undermining the “strategic goal of defeating Hamas,” it is important to think about “the next day” and how to find a political solution to the conflict, the prime minister said.

“At the end of the day, one has to recognize what the price is to pay to defeat Hamas,” he added.

Greece-Turkey relations

Mr. Mitsotakis said that Greece implements a “tough but fair” immigration policy, which has helped reduce illegal crossings from Turkish shores. He also reiterated Greece’s right to protect its maritime borders and the need for continued financial aid from the EU, amid some international criticism of Greece pushing migrants back to sea.

“We receive a lot of European aid, but it is important that this European aid does not dry up in the coming years,” he said.

He also said he is looking forward to improvement of Greece’s relationship with Turkey, noting that there has already been a “style shift” in recent months. Despite the persistent disagreements between Athens and Ankara, Mr Mitsotakis said he hoped the two countries would be able to work together.

“I have always been an open supporter that Turkey should be financially supported by the European Union because it is currently hosting millions of Syrian refugees,” he said. “There are win-win areas where we can work together.”

On the international stage, Mitsotakis said he was proud of how Greece managed to improve its image. After “several international attacks” over the decades, Greece is finally no longer Europe’s “problem child,” he said.