Rights groups, legal experts urge Greece to act against ships carrying jet fuel for Israeli military aircraft

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Several rights groups and legal experts as well as political parties from Greece and elsewhere in the world on Tuesday urged the Greek government to act against ships carrying jet fuel for Israeli military aircraft.

“We write to express our dismay at the Greek government’s decision to allow the Overseas Santorini and Overseas Sun Coast into Greek territorial waters. As of 13th August, both vessels are anchored in Greece, the Overseas Santorini at Piraeus and the Overseas Sun Coast at Agioi Theodoroi,” they said in a joint open letter addressed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokakis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Maritime Minister Christos Stylianides.

Recalling that the Greek government was alerted on Aug. 6, via the Greek Missions to the UN, that both of these vessels deliver military jet fuel to Israel, the statement added: “Included with this alert was a letter signed by international legal experts advising the Greek government that allowing these vessels to transit in Greek territorial waters or to provision these vessels at ports within Greece’s jurisdiction amounts to complicity in grave breaches of international law, including genocide and apartheid. This advice was substantiated with reference to recent rulings made by the International Court of Justice, actions taken by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and statements made by U.N. Special Rapporteurs.”

Maintaining that the signatory organizations and experts are gravely concerned that this advice appears to have been disregarded by the Greek government, the letter called for avoidance from assisting Israel in its violations of international law, including war crimes.

“We remind the Greek government of their legal obligation to take all necessary measures within their influence to prevent genocide, and we look forward to your cooperation,” it concluded.

Apart from dozens of prominent legal experts, Global Energy Embargo for Palestine, International Coalition to Stop Genocide In Palestine, Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Decolonize Hellas, BDS Greece, Panhellenic Union of Deckhands of the Merchant Marine are among the 52 signatory organizations.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an attack last October by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

Nearly 40,000 people have since been killed, mostly children and women, and over 92,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and ordered a halt to its military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge before the city was invaded on May 6.​​​​​​​