Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday. [Richard Drew/AP Photo]
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told the United Nations General Assembly that Israel risks alienating its remaining allies by continuing its war in Gaza.
Underlining that Greece immediately condemned Hamas’ “heinous attacks of October 7, 2023” on Israel from the outset and “advocated for Israel’s right to defend itself against a terrorist organization that rejects Israel’s right to exist,” Mitsotakis said “no military targets, no matter how valuable they are, can justify the death of thousands of children, the forced displacement of over a million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.”
The prime minister said that Greece’s “strategic partnership with Israel” does not prevent it “from speaking openly and honestly and frankly. “The continuation of this course of action will ultimately harm Israel’s own interests, leading to an erosion of international support.
“And I tell my Israeli friends that they risk alienating all their remaining allies if they persist on a path that is shattering the potential of a two-state solution.”
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Mitsotakis praised the “indescribable courage” of the Ukrainian people, emphasizing that their struggle is a defense of freedom and for a world based on international rules. He assured Ukraine that Greece continues to stand with and will continue its assistance to it.
Referring to the European Union, the prime minister noted that the time has come for joint defense planning, citing Jean Monnet’s remark that Europe was created through crises.
On Greek-Turkish relations, Mitsotakis said the way forward is based on dialogue and called on Turkey to remove the threat of war, noting that the casus belli remains like a “dark cloud” over Greece.
Mitsotakis underlined that Greece supports the UN’s efforts to restart negotiations on Cyprus.
The prime minister also urged action on social media addition among young people.