Greece supports Egyptian Gaza ceasefire initiative

Greece supports the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire in Gaza, government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in phone calls to Foreign ministers of Israel Avigdor Liberman, Palestine Riyad al-Malki and Egypt Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday.

Venizelos congratulated his Egyptian counterpart for the initiative which he said was the only practical solution at this time, and reassured him of Greece's readiness to offer its good services to de-escalate tension and restore communication channels and the peace process between Israel and Palestine.

Earlier in the day, Israel's counselor in Athens Tammy Ben Haim said during a press conference at the Israeli embassy that "Israel looks to a strong and viable ceasefire and already this morning accepted the Egyptian plan for a ceasefire putting an end to hostilities with Hamas, which, however, continued its launching of rockets up to late afternoon."