SYRIZA leader calls for end to Gaza War, backs UN Special Rapporteur’s work

Greece’s opposition leader has called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, describing the situation as a “genocide” and voicing strong support for the work of a United Nations human rights official.

Sokratis Famellos, president of the left-wing SYRIZA party, attended a public lecture in Athens by UN Special Rapporteur on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese.

The event took place at Panteion University and brought together academics, politicians, and activists focused on human rights and international law.

“The Violence Must Stop”
In a statement shared on social media, Famellos said he and SYRIZA representatives expressed strong support for Albanese’s work and for the United Nations more broadly.

He stated that they agreed “the genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza must stop,” adding that the struggle for human rights, peace, freedom, and international law is a shared global responsibility.

Support for UN Human Rights Work
Albanese, who serves as the UN’s independent expert on Palestinian territories, has been a prominent voice documenting human rights conditions in Gaza and the West Bank amid ongoing conflict and international legal debates.

Famellos emphasized alignment with her mandate and reaffirmed backing for international institutions tasked with monitoring human rights violations.

Political and Diplomatic Context
The statement comes amid heightened political tensions in Europe and beyond over the Israel–Gaza war, which has sparked widespread protests, diplomatic disputes, and competing legal interpretations regarding the conduct of the conflict.

Greek political discourse has increasingly reflected broader European divisions over how the war is framed and addressed in international forums.