Gerapetritis discusses hosting children from Gaza

Europe has a duty to host children hurt and injured by the war in Gaza for as long as the conflict lasts, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis told Reuters on Wednesday. Mr Gerapetritis is seeking partners in a plan he hopes will bring children from Gaza temporarily to the European Union and said he discussed the idea with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa this week.

“We must face this tragedy with great clarity,” Gerapetritis said. “Europe must be open to the wounded from (Gaza) but also to the children who face immediate famine or other kinds of danger.” OENGE is on a common line with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, as it has requested that injured people from Gaza be treated in letters to the Ministry of Health.

Greece was elected as a member of the OHE Security Council for the 2025-2026 term earlier this month, and Gerapetritis believes the country’s historic ties to the Arab world give it credibility to act as a peace broker.

Greece condemned the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7, but called for an end to Israel’s ground and air assault on Gaza, which Palestinian authorities say has killed more than 35,000 people and leveled entire cities.

The matter is being discussed with the Palestinian authorities

Giorgos Gerapetritis, did not say how many people could be hosted by Greece or the EU, but stated that the issue is being discussed with the Palestinian authorities. He emphasized that the initiative is not linked to regular immigration, which is being strongly opposed by a resurgent right in Europe. “This is an obvious appeal for humanitarian aid. We are not talking here about economic migrants or other types of irregular immigration,” he said, days after far-right parties won the European elections.

The World Health Organization says many in Gaza face starvation conditions and more than 8,000 children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. In addition, “the psychological impact of war on children is enormous,” said Giorgos Gerapetritis. The Greek foreign minister said he spoke with the prime ministers of Palestine and Israel this week about ways to seal peace and rebuild Gaza.

“We should not wait for the war to stop before we start talking,” he said. “It will be a gigantic project and we need to develop it as early as possible,” he stressed. A ceasefire in Gaza would also help reduce attacks on ships by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in the Red Sea, which have affected Greece’s shipping sector.

“I am relatively optimistic that alongside the ceasefire that we hope to achieve in the very near future, the situation in the Red Sea will also become much better,” said Mr Gerapetritis.