Greek PM Warns Israel Risks Losing Allies Over Gaza War

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 27 (VoM): Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cautioned on Friday that Israel risks alienating its remaining allies if it continues its devastating military campaign in Gaza.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Mitsotakis, a center-right leader and longstanding partner of Israel within the European Union, acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. However, he stressed that this cannot “justify the death of thousands of children.”

“Greece maintains a strategic partnership with Israel, but this does not prevent us from speaking openly and frankly,” he said. “The continuation of this course of action will ultimately harm Israel’s own interests, leading to an erosion of international support.”

Addressing Israeli leadership directly, Mitsotakis added, “I tell my Israeli friends they risk alienating all their remaining allies if they persist on a path that is shattering the potential of a two-state solution.”

While Greece has not joined France, Britain, and other European powers in formally recognizing a Palestinian state, Mitsotakis’s remarks underscore mounting frustration within the EU over Israel’s actions.

Earlier Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant UN address accusing Western leaders of fueling antisemitism. Netanyahu flew to New York on a circuitous route that avoided certain European airspaces, reflecting the arrest warrant he faces from the International Criminal Court.

Greece and Israel have deepened ties in recent years, bound partly by shared tensions with Türkiye, whose influence in Syria has expanded significantly since the fall of Bashar Assad in December.

However, public opinion in Greece remains highly critical of Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Mitsotakis’s predecessor, left-wing former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, has openly urged Athens to join the growing list of countries recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Mitsotakis’s warning highlights the growing rift between Israel and even its closest European partners, as the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount.

@voice of malaysia news