STORY: :: Europe must host children harmed by the war in Gaza, Greece's foreign minister says
:: Athens, Greece
:: June 18, 2024
:: George Gerapetritis, Greek Foreign Minister
"We we have offered ourselves to host injured people from Palestine but also children from Palestine to come to Europe and stay here until the war is over."
"A few days ago I talked to the Palestinian prime minister and we had a very extensive and constructive talk about how to be of meaningful assistance especially for the humanitarian aid but also for the day after for the reconstruction in Gaza. Also yesterday I talked to the Israeli foreign minister in order to see how Greece could promote the peace formula."
"There is a total lack of basic resources of fundamental networks which are absolutely essential in order for people to be able to live under humane conditions so we need to start working on, first, providing housing for people, secondly providing essential networks including electricity and water and food and then to be able to provide some adequate security."
Gerapetritis is seeking partners in what he hopes would be a project to temporarily bring the children to the European Union, and said he discussed the idea with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa this week.
The 56-year old, who has held the post for a year, did not say how many people could be hosted by Greece or the EU but said the issue was under discussion with Palestinian authorities.
Greece condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants against Israel but has called for a halt to Israel's ground and air assault on Gaza that Palestinian authorities say has killed more than 35,000 people and flattened whole cities.
