The evacuation plan for 3,500 Greek and Cypriot citizens in Lebanon, using military planes and navy ships, was finalized yesterday during an emergency meeting of the Governmental Council for National Security (KYSEA) chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
So far, 60 people have expressed their intention to leave, and it is expected that as the conflict escalates, Greece will receive more requests from both Lebanon and Israel.
The meeting also addressed plans for managing potential refugee flows Greece may face from the Middle East.
Lebanon, with a population of 5.5 million, currently hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees and 210,000 Palestinian refugees. It is anticipated that these individuals may attempt to travel to Europe via Turkey and Greece as the prospects for peace in the Middle East diminish.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the armed attack by two Palestinians in Tel Aviv, which left 7 people dead, including one Greek national.
There is a proposal to expand some of the 33 refugee accommodation facilities; however, according to “K,” the capacity can only increase by about 3,000 people. Therefore, any additional refugee flows would need to be redirected to facilities on the mainland.
Meanwhile, the government is concerned about potential attacks on Israeli-related targets, prompting the Hellenic Police and the National Intelligence Service (EYP) to remain on high alert and implement security measures.
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