Greek main opposition calls for parliament session on Palestine

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Greece’s main opposition party PASOK on Monday called for a plenary parliamentary session to address developments in Palestine.

In a letter to Parliamentary Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis warned: “The crisis in Gaza has already entered a very dangerous phase for months, particularly critical for the lives and dignity of its residents and catalytic for future developments in the region.“

Noting that not only has the death toll soared, he pointed out that living conditions in the besieged Palestinian enclave have also deteriorated sharply since March due to renewed Israeli military attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid.

“It is now clear and distinct that the operations of the Israeli Armed Forces - according to the explicit confession of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - have as their sole objective the complete evacuation of the Gaza Strip from all of its Palestinian inhabitants and, therefore, constitute an act of ethnic cleansing, according to the current definition of the United Nations and the European Union,” Androulakis emphasized.

He also urged the government to confirm the country’s commitment to the two-state solution, which he called “the only just and sustainable option for the peaceful and secure coexistence of the peoples of the region.”

“For these reasons and in light of the recent rapid and tragic developments in Gaza, I ask you to convene the Plenary Session of the House in order to discuss - before the agenda - the current situation in Palestine, with the aim of confirming and updating the content of the unanimous Resolution (Special Decision) of the Hellenic Parliament of 22.12.2015 to promote the recognition of the State of Palestine by Greece and to undertake every possible diplomatic effort for the immediate start of direct peace talks,” Androulakis added.

Israel has killed nearly 62,700 Palestinians in a brutal assault in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.