Greece's main opposition party condemns Israeli attack on Rafah

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Greece’s left-wing main opposition SYRIZA party on Monday condemned Israel’s attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip which killed over 100 people and the Greek government’s “deafening silence” over it.

“SYRIZA-PS expresses its strong concern about the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The absolutely reprehensible actions of (the Palestinian group) Hamas do not justify in any way the violation of international humanitarian law which maintains the vicious cycle of blood and violence,” the party said in a statement.

“In contrast to the continued deafening silence of the government, which is limited to repeating the need for a ‘prolonged cessation of hostilities’ and ‘de-escalation of the crisis,’ SYRIZA-PS consistently expresses its solidarity with the hard-pressed Palestinian people.”

The party highlighted the need to support the efforts of the UN for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, an end to the humanitarian crisis, the return of the Israeli hostages and the immediate restart of credible talks which would lead to the formation of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital city.

More than 100 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Rafah, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported early Monday.

Palestinians have sought refuge in the city as Israel pounded the rest of the enclave since Oct. 7, 2023.

The ensuing Israeli bombardments have killed more than 28,000 people, mostly women and children, and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.