The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has blasted the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit to Jerusalem and the meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as "provocative" and "amounts to complicity in crime."
"At a time when the state of Israel is escalating its attacks against the Palestinian people, with thousands killed or injured, it is provocative and amounts to complicity in crime," KKE said in a press release regarding Mitsotakis' visit to Israel on Monday.
"Mitsotakis' statement on 'Israel's right to self-defence', which it should supposedly 'exercise without major humanitarian cost,' is not only historically illiterate but also outrageous," the statement continued.
"No support to Netanyahu's government and the terrorist state of Israel. There must be no provision of facilities, military bases and other infrastructure that turn Greece into a victimiser of the Palestinians," KKE underlined.
"Mitsotakis and his government do not express the feelings of the Greek people, who from the first moment stood in solidarity with the just struggle of the people of Palestine. The supporters of the Israeli occupation will by isolated by our people," the statement concluded.
Mitsotakis meets with Netanyahu
Mitsotakis met on Monday with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. During the meeting, the prime minister expressed his horror and sorrow at Hamas' terrorist attacks against Israel.
The premier underlined Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international law.
He reiterated the need to protect civilians, free the Israelis held hostage by Hamas and avoid a humanitarian crisis.
The prime minister's exchange with Netanyahu at the start of their meeting was as follows:
Benjamin Netanyahu: Prime Minister, my dear friend Kyriakos, I am very glad to see you here. I always say that the best thing besides standing with Israel, is being in Israel. I appreciate your solidarity, that of your government and the Greek people, in this dark hour. It is a battle of civilisation against barbarism. We are on the side of civilisation and we must all unite against Hamas, which is the Islamic State (ISIS).
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Thank you very much, Prime Minister, dear Bibi. I come here not only as an ally, but as a true friend. What happened was truly horrific. From the first moment, Greece defended and supported Israel's right to self-defence, according to International Law. We made a very clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people. We will continue to support you and hope that whatever happens must happen without great humanitarian cost. You can count on our support, our help.
Benjamin Netanyahu: Thank you, my friend. Thank you.
The Greek Prime Minister also met on Monday with "relatives of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists two weeks ago", the Ambassador of Israel to Greece, Noam Katz, posted on X, including photographs.
#Greek @PrimeministerGR @kmitsotakis 🇬🇷met a while ago in #Israel 🇮🇱 with relatives of #Israeli hostages kidnapped by #Hamas terrorists 2 weeks ago. #BringThemHomeNow pic.twitter.com/vEHGxFGp7g
— 🇮🇱 Noam Katz (@NoamKatz_) October 23, 2023
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