Haritsis condemned the recent actions in Rafah, describing them as war crimes under International Law. “The invasion and evacuation of Rafah, which constitutes a war crime under International Law, must be stopped NOW, and humanitarian channels must be kept open,” he added. His comments come in the wake of the Israeli government’s rejection of a ceasefire proposal, followed by airstrikes and a ground invasion at the Rafah humanitarian crossing.
The president of the New Left suggested a multi-faceted approach for Greece to support peace efforts:
1. Diplomatic pressure: Greece should exert diplomatic pressure within the EU, alongside other member states, to advocate for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
2. Recognition of Palestine: In line with the UN resolutions and the unanimous resolution of the Greek Parliament from December 2015, Greece should recognise the State of Palestine.
3. Coordination for recognition: Greece should work with countries like Spain, Ireland, Slovakia, and Malta, which have shown a willingness to recognise Palestine, to lobby for broader recognition within the EU.
4. Withdrawal of occupation troops: Haritsis calls for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation troops from the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank.
5. Recall of Greek military forces: He proposes recalling the Greek frigate from the Gulf of Aden to ensure that Greece does not become complicit in the conflict, aligning with the wishes of the Greek people who advocate for peace and justice.
Haritsis concluded by asserting Greece’s moral obligation to act decisively on the international stage: “The Greek people do not become complicit in the massacre. We won’t avert our gaze from genocide. He will fight for peace and justice. We’ll stay on the right side of history.”
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