The opposition's claims that Greece refused to support international initiatives for Gaza were inaccurate, Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivasileiou said in Parliament on Thursday.
He confirmed that a letter had been sent to the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) by the Dutch government proposing that EU-Israel association agreement be revised but noted that this will be decided by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Police, Kaja Kallas, in her capacity as the head of European diplomacy.
“ Nothing was put to a vote. It is a shame that the opposition is circulating fake news that supposedly the country did not vote or did not support such an initiative,” Hatzivasilieou said.
He added that, within the framework of the UN Security Council, a draft statement on the situation in Gaza was discussed, which “ Greece has supported and continues to support in every way, and this draft statement is under negotiation with certain member states that have reservations. If the opposition now means the statement of donors prepared by the British, it is addressed exclusively to the major donors, which does not include Greece. So, do not state inaccuracies that the Greek prime minister or Greece refused to sign anything," he emphasised.
He said that Greece has co-signed a very stern statement against Israel in the Security Council regarding Gaza, adding that the United Kingdom, Greece, France, Denmark and Slovenia have said that the use of humanitarian aid as a lever of pressure or as a tactic  is unacceptable. He also pointed out that, following an initiative of the government and other European states in the Security Council, there will be a discussion next week focusing exclusively on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Finally, within the framework of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Greece today voted in favour of a draft resolution on the health situation in Palestine, said Hatzivasileiou added.
Earlier, Hatzivasilieiou said he described the situation in Gaza as "beyond tragic. And because no civilised person can accept this, Greece is making every effort to find a solution - something which, you understand, is difficult - as the country holding the presidency of the UN Security Council at this time."
The deputy minister also cited the discussion being chaired by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Thursday in New York on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and the statements made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a radio interview on Thursday afternoon, calling on Israel to stop military operations so that aid can reach Gaza.