Government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos made the following statement on Thursday, regarding the recent developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip:

“Like all of the international community, we are following the escalation of violence in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip with intense concern and deep dismay.

We unequivocally condemn the violence, whatever its source – particularly when it results in innocent victims.

There is an imperative need for a show of self-restraint and the immediate implementation of a ceasefire so as to avert further fuelling of the violence and losses of human lives”.