By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – Greece on Monday reiterated its deep concern over the situation in Gaza and the escalation in the Red Sea, again pushing for a two-state solution as a way to help end the conflict.
“Greece has consistently and consistently supported the creation of an independent Palestinian state, which will coexist peacefully with Israel, within the internationally recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 border line and with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said alongside his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al Safadi in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he is paying an official visit.
Adding that Athens is increasingly concerned over the loss of civilian life and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and escalation in the West Bank, at the Lebanese-Israeli border, and the Red Sea as spillover of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, he added: “Greece believes that it is time to start a serious discussion for the day after (the conflict), in order to be able to open a political prospect for peace in the region.”
Gerapetritis also said: “We must alleviate the pain and suffering of civilians in Gaza. We must all do what we can to provide food and medicine. And of course, we need to restore the necessary facilities and networks in Gaza.”
Moreover, he stressed that population displacement scenarios for Gaza are unacceptable.
Israel launched a deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, killing at least 24,100 people and injuring 60,834 others, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed.
The offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.