Europe has an obligation to host youngsters harm and traumatised by struggle in Gaza for so long as the battle continues, Greek Overseas Minister George Gerapetritis advised Reuters on Wednesday.
Gerapetritis is looking for companions in what he hopes can be a undertaking to briefly convey the kids to the European Union, and stated he mentioned the thought with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa this week.
“We have to face this tragedy very clearly,” Gerapetritis stated. “Europe must be open to injured folks from (Gaza) but in addition to youngsters who at the moment are dealing with famine or different types of risks.”
Greece was elected as a member of the United Nations Safety Council for 2025-2026 earlier this month, and Gerapetritis believes the nation’s historic ties with the Arab world give it credibility to behave as a peace dealer.
The 56-year previous, who has held the put up for a 12 months, didn’t say how many individuals could possibly be hosted by Greece or the EU however stated the problem was below dialogue with Palestinian authorities.
Gerapetritis harassed that the initiative was not linked to common migration, which has develop into politically delicate in Europe and strongly opposed by a resurgent proper.
“That is an apparent name of humanitarian help. We’re not speaking right here about financial migrants or different varieties of irregular migration,” he stated, days after far-right events surged in European parliamentary elections.
Greece condemned the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas militants in opposition to Israel however has referred to as for a halt to Israel’s floor and air assault on Gaza that Palestinian authorities say has killed greater than 35,000 folks and flattened entire cities.
The World Well being Group says many in Gaza face famine-like circumstances and greater than 8,000 youngsters below 5 years previous are struggling with acute malnutrition.
As well as, the psychological influence of the struggle on youngsters is “large”, stated Gerapetritis.
Gerapetritis stated he talked to Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers this week about methods to seal peace and reconstruct Gaza.
“We shouldn’t wait… for the struggle to cease to be able to begin discussing it,” he stated. “It’ll be an enormous undertaking and we have now to develop it as early as potential,” he stated.
A Gaza ceasefire would additionally assist scale back assaults on ships by Iran-backed Houthi militants within the Purple Sea which has affected Greece’s transport sector.
“I’m comparatively optimistic that alongside the ceasefire that we’re hoping to realize within the very close to future, the state of affairs additionally within the Purple Sea will develop into a lot better,” Gerapetritis stated.
