Greece intensifies pushbacks of Palestinians fleeing Gaza war

There is no respite yet for many Palestinians fleeing from the war in Gaza.
This is as Aegean Boat Report said Illegal and brutal pushbacks of Palestinians fleeing war in Gaza continue in Greece, with no regard for human lives.

Twelve Palestinians were on Friday found drifting in a Greek-manufactured life raft in Turkish waters near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, in the eastern Mediterranean.

The group had been taken onboard a Greek coast guard vessel, on which their papers, valuables and phones were taken away from them. Then they were forced into a life raft, and left helplessly drifting in the dark.

The Greek coast guard was fully aware that they were Palestinians when they forced them into the life raft, and that they were fleeing an ongoing war. The problem is they don’t care, who they are and where they come from doesn’t matter, they are unwanted, “not real refugees” according to Greek officials, “illegal immigrants”, “invaders”..

Border crimes in Greece continue unhindered and unchallenged by the European Council. Not only that, the EU supports and finances these border crimes with Europeans taxpayers’ money, These unacceptable and illegal acts are carried out in your name, using your money.

More than 25,000 Palestinian people have been killed in Gaza since 8 October 2023: that’s an average of 250 people a day. Thousands of those killed were small children. The daily death rate is higher than in any other 21st Century conflict.

In comparison, according to the UN, 10.000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, an average of 13 people a day.

Following the call of the EU member state’s home affairs ministers, on 2 March 2022, the EU Commission rapidly proposed to activate the Temporary Protection Directive, under which people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be granted protection. On 4 March 2022, the Council unanimously adopted the decision, only eight days into the invasion. The Israeli slaughter of men, women and children in Gaza has now lasted over 100 days. More than 25,000 people have been killed. When will be the right time for the Council to act?

It’s long overdue that the Council triggers the Temporary Protection Directive for people fleeing the slaughter in Gaza, as we did when Russia invaded Ukraine, and offers quick and effective assistance also to Palestinians.

The experience of Palestinian people has been and is still atrocious. They have every right to flee, as the alternative is death. The very least we in Europe can do is to ensure they have at least the same rights and opportunities as those Ukrainian people who fled when Russia invaded their country.
#StopBorderCrimes