Photo circulating on social media
Israel has frequently labelled solidarity with Palestinians suffering under its 22-month genocidal war on Gaza as antisemitism and sought to broaden the definition to include any legitimate criticism of its war crimes in the devastated territory.
Haris Doukas, the Socialist PASOK mayor, responded sharply after Israeli ambassador Noam Katz said Israeli tourists felt "uncomfortable" in Athens because the mayor "does not act against organised minorities" responsible for anti-Israel graffiti.
"We have proved our strong opposition to violence and racism and we do not take lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians," Doukas wrote on X.
"Athens, capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens," he added.
"It is revolting that the ambassador concentrates on graffiti (that is clearly wiped off) while an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza."
Since Israel's genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health officials, with much of the strip reduced to rubble. Independent estimates suggest the death toll is significantly higher.
The war has been compounded by Israel's five-month blockade that has pushed Gaza's 2.3 million people into famine. Six more Palestinians have died from starvation in the past 24 hours due to the deadly Israeli blockade, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths in Gaza to 175, including 93 children.
UN experts, legal scholars, and human rights organisations have all recognised the war in Gaza as a genocide.
Greece, like several other European countries, has seen repeated pro-Palestinian demonstrations, many of them led by left-wing and student groups.
A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists around the Greek islands was met with protests at several ports in recent weeks.
While Greece followed a pro-Arab foreign policy for decades, it has deepened ties with Israel since 2010, particularly in defence and energy cooperation.
Since the start of the war, an increasing number of Israelis have visited Greece and invested in its real estate market, according to AFP.
Doukas said the number of Israelis obtaining Greek residence permits through property purchases rose by 90 percent last year.
Although the Greek government maintains close ties with Israel, many officials and large sections of the public have been critical of its war on Gaza and of efforts to label any criticism of that war as antisemitism.
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