Greece is working with the United Nations and other countries to send Greek humanitarian help to Gaza as soon as possible and to ensure it reaches those who need it most, Health Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said in Parliament on Thursday.
His announcement in parliament was in the presence of Palestinian Authority Ambassador Yussef Dorkhom.
The minister added that there should be both humanitarian corridors and humanitarian pauses in the war in support of Gaza civilians.
The visuals that media report from Gaza are terrible and inhumane, he said, with thousands of people, especially children, losing their lives from a conflict that has gone beyond limits.
Parties' support
In Parliament, Plefsi Eleftherias party leader Zoi Konstantopoulou had met at her office with Ambassador Dorkhom to express her condemnation of attacks on hospitals, medical staff and ambulances in Gaza, and called for a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
Her party will always take the side of peace and the people of Palestine, she added, calling on the government to state whether it plans to change sides and support human beings.
The presence of the ambassador in Parliament's plenary session was welcomed by representatives of PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL), SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Communist Party of Greece, and Niki.
Greek communists condemn government’s complicity in Israeli war on Gaza
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has harshly criticized the conservative New Democracy (ND) government’s complicity in the ongoing genocidal war by Israel in Gaza and other imperialist conflicts perpetuated by the US and the NATO alliances.
On October 29, communists and other anti-imperialist groups organized massive demonstrations in front of the Israeli and US Embassies in Athens, denouncing the war crimes of Israel in Gaza. Major rallies were also held in the cities of Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion, among others, with the call to ‘Stop the massacre in Gaza Right Now!’
Another major rally has also been called for November 5 in Athens by anti-imperialist platforms including the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE), political parties including the KKE, and the trade union All Workers’ Militant Front (PAME), demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
This follows from another PAME protest in Athens International Airport on November 2.
The All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), founded by the Communist Party of Greece, held a flash rally this morning at Athens International Airport in solidarity with Palestine.
They chanted "stop the slaughter in Gaza now" and "freedom for Palestine." pic.twitter.com/QDcqvSmkPH
— Paul Antonopoulos 🇬🇷🇨🇾 (@oulosP) November 2, 2023
Earlier, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), accused the country’s government of enormous criminal responsibilities, and said that other opposition parties were tolerant of the government’s actions.
He demanded the withdrawal of the frigate Psara and other forms of Greek military presence in the region.
“There should be no deployment of military forces outside the borders. Close the bases of death. Our country should not participate in this massacre in the Middle East, because the Greek people themselves will ultimately pay for it. We demand freedom in Palestine. Let Israel’s occupying troops leave the Palestinian territories here and now,” he added.
16 Greek citizens and family members cross from Gaza into Egypt
A total of 16 Greek citizens and family members crossed from Gaza into Egypt through Rafa, following initiatives of the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry, on Thursday.
Twelve of them crossed into Egypt on Thursday afternoon, while another four were safely evacuated on Thursday evening.
Their transport to Greece will be arranged shortly, the ministry said.
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