Greece Pledges Peacekeepers for Gaza, Positions Itself as Key Regional Mediator
By
Tasos Kokkinidis
December 11, 2025
Greece Gaza
Greek FM Gerapetritis at the Doha Forum. Credit: AMNA
Greece is poised to significantly deepen its role in Middle East stabilization efforts, with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis formally announcing the country’s readiness to deploy “blue helmets” (UN peacekeepers or a similar multinational force) as part of the reconstruction and security initiative planned for post-conflict Gaza.
The commitment was made during Gerapetritis’s address at the Doha Forum in Qatar, where he underscored Athens’ unique diplomatic standing as a reliable interlocutor bridging Israel and the Arab world.
Greece’s unique balancing act on Gaza
Gerapetritis emphasized that Greece’s ability to maintain strong, balanced relationships is its greatest asset in this context:
“For us, peace and prosperity in this particularly volatile region are vital. Regarding the Middle East, we need a fair and balanced process that will lead to peace. We envision Israel living in peace and security alongside the Palestinians. This is extremely important.”
He then highlighted the strategic advantage of Greece’s dual relationships:
“Greece is a strategic ally of Israel. We have a unique strategic alliance with Israel in all areas. At the same time, Greece is one of the few states that maintains close, brotherly relations with all the Arab states in the region. Therefore, Greece can function as an honest mediator and reliable interlocutor in the wider region.”
Commitment to stabilization and reconstruction
The Foreign Minister confirmed Greece’s planned participation in the future of Gaza, specifying areas of contribution:
Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction: Contributing to the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure.
Stabilization Forces: Deploying personnel as part of a proposed multinational force that would assume a “police” role to maintain order during the post-conflict transition.
Training and Security Handover: Athens views its strong ties as key to collaborating with Egypt and Israel on training Palestinian police forces for a swift and effective handover of security responsibilities.
Diplomatic sources note that Israel holds firm opposition to the involvement of Turkey in any security arrangement, making trusted NATO partners like Greece essential to the US-led plan. Greek officials have signaled an assertive approach aimed at promoting Athens’ interests over those of regional rivals.
Gerapetritis on the protection of Christian populations
“Furthermore, Greece can serve as a guarantor for the protection of Christian populations. I will undertake a series of initiatives, regionally, in the U.S., and at the U.N. (as a potential member of the Security Council), intending to take the initiative for the protection of all religious communities, especially the Christian ones, as they are the most vulnerable.”
The operational details for the stabilization phase are expected to be solidified during a pivotal meeting slated for December among key stakeholders, including the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, with Washington reportedly aiming for a force deployment in Gaza by early 2026.
This announcement reflects Greece’s growing diplomatic footprint, leveraging its balanced regional ties to proactively foster lasting peace and stability in the Gaza Strip.
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