Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke by phone on Monday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with the latest developments related to the conflict in Gaza – following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas against southern Israel – as well as the wider Middle East dominating the conversation.

According to a press release by the Greek PM’s Maximos Mansion office, the former reiterated Athens’ position of condemning Hamas’ terrorism and confirming Israel’s right to self-defense.

The center-right Greek premier also expressed his heightened concern for the protection of Gaza civilians, while pointing to the need for “humanitarian pauses” and the constant flow of crucial humanitarian aid to the now encircled Palestinian enclave.