Thousands gathered in Athens’ Syntagma Square on Wednesday evening, May 21, to protest the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing aid blockade.
Organised by the Palestinian Community of Greece, trade unions, and activist groups, the demonstration called for solidarity with Palestinians.
“We unite our voices against the massacre of the Palestinian people. All together for a free Palestine,” organisers stated.
Police closed Amalias Avenue as the protest began, maintaining a strong presence in the area. The Communist Party-affiliated union PAME also called for a march to the Israeli Embassy on Thursday, May 22.
Earlier in the day, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis spoke with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, reiterating Greece’s call for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza.
🇬🇷 FM stressed that, while the resumption of humanitarian aid to #Gaza has been a much needed first step, unhindered and large-scale assistance remains essential in order to address the humanitarian crisis & alleviate the suffering of civilians.
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) May 21, 2025
Gerapetritis emphasised that resuming aid was a “much needed first step,” according to a Foreign Ministry post ahead of Thursday’s UN Security Council debate on protecting civilians in armed conflict, which Gerapetritis will chair.
Despite the Greek government’s stated support for humanitarian efforts and the Palestinian Authority, opposition parties have condemned its decision to vote against a proposal at the EU Foreign Affairs Council to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Seventeen of 27 EU members backed the proposal, which aimed to reassess political and economic ties with Israel.
Πού είναι η διεθνής κοινότητα και οι μεγάλες δυνάμεις να πάρουν πρωτοβουλίες, ώστε να σταματήσει αυτή η εθνοκάθαρση; Γίνεται μια προσπάθεια να εκτοπιστούν από τη Γάζα εκατομμύρια Παλαιστίνιοι. Μιλάμε για ένα έγκλημα κατά της ανθρωπότητας. Ο Νετανιάχου πρέπει να οδηγηθεί στο… pic.twitter.com/S9gzfv4I0V
— Nikos Androulakis (@androulakisnick) May 21, 2025
Opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of silence on Gaza during his recent UN Security Council address.
PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis called the government’s stance an “insult to the Greek people,” while SYRIZA’s Sokratis Famellos accused it of legitimising civilian deaths through inaction.
“Greece remains silent,” Famellos said, as most EU nations “take a clear and emphatic position against the crimes that Israel is committing in Gaza.”
Source: Ekathimerini.
