ATHENS

Only a two-state solution can deliver peace in the decades-old Israel-Palestine conflict, said Greece’s premier on Thursday.

Meeting his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Shtayyeh in Paris, Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his growing concern about civilian casualties and underlined the need for humanitarian pauses to allow a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a statement by the Greek Prime Minister’s Office.

Against this background, he added, Greece is ready to provide more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Shtayyeh, for his part, underscored the importance of ending the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

“The siege of Gaza is a slow death for everyone, especially the wounded,” he said.

Shtayyeh pointed to the rising number of seriously wounded in Gaza who have to get medical treatment and so need to be evacuated, as the enclave is short on medical supplies and many of its hospitals have had to close due to lack of electricity and fuel for generators, under Israel's blockade.

However, he said, Israel should not be allowed to use this as a way to push the Palestinians out of Gaza.

“The intention of the Israelis is to expel as many Palestinians as possible,” he said.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestine group Hamas on Oct. 7.​​​​​​​

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed, according to Palestinian figures.

The Israeli death toll is near 1,600, the latest official figures say.​​​​​​​