Greece calls for more pressure on Israel as it conducts deadliest air strikes on Lebanon

Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Monday that Israel is not facing “effective pressure” to end the war in Gaza and its escalation in Lebanon.

This statement comes after 492 people were killed on Monday when Israel unleashed its most widespread wave of air strikes against Hezbollah, making it Lebanon’s deadliest day since the end of the civil war.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Gerapetritis said the escalation in Lebanon is a minefield that the international community may not be able to deal with.

“It seems that there is no effective pressure upon Israel. We are friends of Israel, and we’re strategic partners of Israel, and we’re trying to be as open and sincere with them,” Mr Gerapetritis said.

“We have not prevented the spillover, and the more dispersed the war becomes, the more the situation becomes more complicated to be solved.

“Lebanon could easily be a zone of tremendous hostility, and this is something that we cannot deal with. It’s a clear minefield.”

Greece was elected as a member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026 earlier this year, and Athens believes the country’s historical ties with the Arab world and Israel give it credibility to act as a peace broker.

Source: Reuters.