Thousands rally in Athens against Greece’s deployment of warship to Red Sea, Gaza war

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Thousands of people rallied Monday in Athens against Greece’s deployment of a warship to the Red Sea as part of the European Union’s Aspides mission and Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.

The rally, called by the Greek Communist Party (KKE), was attended by a crowd which carried flags of the party, Greece and Palestine as well as banners demanding the immediate withdrawal of the frigate Hydra from the mission and a cease-fire in Gaza.

Some members of the Greek Armed Forces were present at the rally, which took place in the central Syntagma Square.

Addressing the crowd, the general secretary of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, said the country’s involvement in the Aspides mission came despite the will of the Greek people and members of the armed forces.

The ruling New Democracy government and most opposition parties want Greece to be involved in the “imperialist wars” raging in the region and in the dangerous plans of the US and NATO, he added.

In reference to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Koutsoumpas said: “We say it clearly and without half words: They aim to exterminate the heroic people of Palestine, who have been fighting for their own homeland for decades now.”

“It is now clear: The goal of the Israeli leadership is the genocide of the Palestinian people and the displacement of those who survive to further weaken the just struggle of this people against the long-lasting occupation of the Palestinian territories” he said.​​​​​​​

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in which nearly 1,200 people were killed.

More than 31,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and over 72,700 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 27 people have died of malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.