Israel Not Facing Effective Pressure, According to Greece – Reuters

By John Irish

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Greece’s foreign minister expressed concerns on Monday that Israel is not experiencing enough pressure to conclude the conflict in Gaza, and noted that the rising tensions in Lebanon present a significant challenge for the international community.

Earlier this year, Greece was elected as a member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2025-2026. Officials in Athens believe that the country’s historical connections with both the Arab world and Israel provide it with a unique position to facilitate peace efforts.

George Gerapetritis emphasized in an interview on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, “It seems that there is no effective pressure upon Israel. We are friends and strategic partners of Israel, and we are trying to maintain open and sincere communication with them.”

While Greece condemned Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, the country has also called for a cessation of Israel’s ground and air operations in Gaza. Palestinian authorities claim that these actions have resulted in over 41,000 deaths and devastated entire cities.

Gerapetritis remarked on the current situation, stating, “There is a continuous, very strong reaction on the part of Israel,” following his discussions with European Union and Arab foreign ministers.

He stressed the importance of Arabs and Europeans collaborating on unified initiatives that could apply pressure on Israel, pointing out that the recent escalation at the Israel-Lebanon border reflects a collective failure of the international community. “We have not prevented the spillover, and as the conflict spreads, the situation becomes increasingly complex to resolve,” he noted. “Lebanon could easily become a zone of intense hostility, which is a scenario we cannot afford to overlook. It poses a serious risk.”

Since June, Greece has been working to persuade European nations to participate in an initiative to temporarily bring children from Gaza, who have been affected by the war, to the European Union for care and healing. Gerapetritis indicated that discussions on this matter, along with logistical coordination with Palestinian and Israeli representatives, are ongoing. He expressed hope that these efforts would yield positive results soon, adding that Greece is prepared to accommodate around 500 children as part of this initiative.