“Let’s finally admit it: we are participating in the war in the Middle East on the side of Israel”! H. Kapoutsis

Article by Christos Kapoutsis

The HYDRA frigate participates in the naval force codenamed ASPIDES, established by the EU, with a mission, the safety of navigation from missile and other attacks. The operations of the European naval armada are coordinated from Larissa Headquarters and from an American aircraft carrier, located in the area and with the escort warships it has, its main mission is to provide all kinds of air defense to Israel.

The US and EU naval forces are tasked with securing the sea route, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean ports.

But from whom? who are the “villains” of the story? The Houthi rebels who hold a significant part of Yemen.

And why ; what is the goal of HOUTHI? According to their statement, they are participating in the war in the Middle East, on the side of Iran and at the expense of Israel and its allies.

Houthi attacks are carried out on commercial ships of Israeli interests, or allies of Israel, with drones or missiles supplied by Iran.

So in this operational context, early yesterday morning, in the Gulf of Aden, the Frigate HYDRA, fired a gun at two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) heading towards a merchant ship, one of which was shot down and the other driven away. Let’s finally admit it. Greece is actively participating in the war in the Middle East on the side of Israel.

It is interesting that the foreign minister G. Gerapetritis, from Doha onwards the talks he had with the Emir and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of QATAR, he said: “With the Middle East on fire, with the risk of spreading hostilities on many levels, in Lebanon, in Syria. In the Red Sea freedom of navigation is at stake.”

Indeed, the avoidance of the Red Sea, due to the attacks of the KHOUTHI, has an economic effect cost to Europe. It is estimated that 40% of Asia-Europe trade passes through Eritrea sea, the Suez Canal, while at port of Piraeus, a large volume arrives goods.

The insurance premiums for ships using, despite the risks, the red sea, have increased almost tenfold since the start of the HOUTHI attacks. Ships that avoid the Red Sea, and sail around the Horn of Africa, have additional costs, about 1 million dollars.

At a first and somewhat simplistic reading, this results in rising consumer product prices, if, of course, the profiteering games of shipowners and big businessmen are ignored.

But, this is not one independent economic issue. It is collateral damage of the war in the Middle East. It is part of a new financial chapter called “War Economy” and operates on the “logic” of cost-benefit.

And the outlook is getting worse, because the war is escalating.

The army of Israel, yesterday, launched yet another “offensive operation” in southern Lebanon, against 40 targets of Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. At the same time, yesterday the israeli army carried out new deadly bombings, in the Gaza Strip, especially in the area where Rafah is located.

At the same time, the Israeli Army continues its preparations for a ground operation in Rafah in the context of a horrific war against Hamas and the Palestinian civilians, despite the “lax” warnings of the international community, which Prime Minister Netanyahu does not take seriously.

The Foreign Minister G. Gerapetritis also stated that he is touring QATAR and Kuwait, “so that we can try to stop the humanitarian disaster that is taking place in the Middle East”.

The question is: Who, or who, have the political and moral will to stop the carnage taking place in the Gaza Strip, under the impassive gaze of the Western elite?

Unless it is considered “humanitarian” and over the peace intervention, the fact that, o White House asked “answers” from the Israeli authorities after the discovery of mass graves inside the two largest hospitals in the Gaza Strip. What a horror… what a humanitarian disgrace… mass graves… the work of Israel, which, however, failed to move its allies!!! “We want answers,” said Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser. The White House wants answers about the mass graves.

Okay, maybe the Israelis will admit to answer you.. E so what; What will you do fellow Americans?

Perhaps, in all this shame and hypocrisy, to be the most hopeful, that Columbia University Students, but also other American campuses, are intensifying and escalating their demonstrations, against Israel’s war in Gaza. Perhaps they will spark a global movement of anger and outrage…