According to Reuters, the Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said that Europe must host Gazan children who have been traumatized by the war.

Gerapetritis said that he is looking for partners to help him in a temporary project of bringing the children into the European Union. He also revealed that he had discussed this idea with Palestinian Premier Mohammad Mustafa during the week.

Gerapetritis stated that "we need to confront this tragedy very clearly." "We should open our doors to the injured from Gaza, but also to the children who now face famine and other dangers."

Gerapetritis, who believes that the historical ties between Greece and the Arab World give the country credibility as a peace broker, says the election of Greece as a UN Security Council member for 2025-2026 took place earlier this month.

The 56-year-old, who has been in the position for one year, didn't say how many people Greece or the EU could host, but did state that the matter was being discussed with Palestinian authorities.

Gerapetritis emphasized that the initiative had nothing to do with regular migration. This issue has become politically sensitive and is strongly opposed by a resurgent Right.

"This is a clear call for humanitarian assistance." He said that he was not referring to economic migrants or any other type of irregular migration.

Greece condemned the Oct. 7, 2015 attack by Hamas militants on Israel, but called for an end to Israel's air and ground assaults in Gaza. Palestinian authorities claim that more than 35 000 people have been killed and entire cities destroyed.

World Health Organization reports that many Gazans are in famine conditions, and over 8,000 children aged under five suffer from acute malnutrition.

Gerapetritis said that the psychological impact on children of war is "tremendous".

Gerapetritis told reporters that he spoke with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers about ways to rebuild Gaza and seal the peace.

He said, "We shouldn't have to wait for the end of the war before we start talking about it." He said: "It's going to be a huge project, and we need to start developing it as soon as possible."

The Gaza ceasefire will also reduce the attacks by Houthi militants, backed by Iran, on ships in the Red Sea that have affected Greece's shipping industry.

Gerapetritis stated, "I'm relatively optimistic that along with the ceasefire we hope to achieve in the near future, the Red Sea situation will also become much better." (Reporting and editing by Christina Fincher and Edward McAllister)