Tensions ran high in the plenary session of Parliament between Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis and the opposition, this time over the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The president of New Left, Alexis Haritsis, commenting on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ interview yesterday on ANT1’s evening news, described as inconceivable his remark that the term “genocide” for what is happening in Gaza is too heavy.

Responding, Mr. Floridis accused Mr. Haritsis of selective sensitivity, reminding him that in 2015 he served as a minister in the same government as Nikos Filis, who denied the genocide of 353,000 Pontic Greeks, and yet he said nothing at the time. “And now you come to lecture us about Gaza, when you didn’t say a word about the denial of the Pontic genocide,” he remarked pointedly.

Mr. Floridis’ response provoked another intervention from the New Left leader, with Mr. Haritsis countering: “The vulgarity of this man is unprecedented. This particular minister is a disgrace to the government and to the Greek state. In 2015, in this very chamber, there was a unanimous decision to recognize the Palestinian state. You have not a shred of shame.”