Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasised that Europe has a responsibility to host children injured and traumatised by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, Gerapetritis highlighted the urgent need for a European Union initiative to temporarily accommodate these children.
Gerapetritis revealed that he discussed the proposal with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, aiming to rally support for the project. "We need to face this tragedy very clearly," he stated. "Europe should be open to injured people from Gaza, especially children who are now facing famine or other dangers."
Greece, recently elected to the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026, seeks to leverage its historical ties with the Arab world to mediate peace efforts. While the number of children to be hosted remains undetermined, discussions with Palestinian authorities are ongoing.
Emphasising the humanitarian nature of the initiative, Gerapetritis clarified, "This is an obvious call for humanitarian assistance. We're not talking here about economic migrants or other types of irregular migration." This statement comes amid rising political sensitivities around migration in Europe, particularly following recent gains by far-right parties in European parliamentary elections.
In his discussions with Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers, Gerapetritis explored ways to achieve peace and begin the reconstruction of Gaza. "We shouldn't wait for the war to stop to start discussing it," he asserted. "It is going to be a giant project, and we have to develop it as early as possible."
Gerapetritis expressed optimism that a ceasefire in Gaza would also reduce attacks on ships by Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea, benefiting Greece's shipping sector. "I am relatively optimistic that alongside the ceasefire that we're hoping to achieve in the very near future, the situation also in the Red Sea will become much better," he concluded.
Read more: Gaza conflict
(Source: Reuters)
