Israel

Tensions soar as Israel and Iran engage in a heated exchange of accusations during an emergency session of the UN Security Council convened in the aftermath of Tehran's barrage of rockets and drones targeting Israel over the weekend.

Greece is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and with great concern following Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel late on Saturday, amid escalating fears of a major escalation in the Middle East conflict. Authorities are maintaining a state of alert and staying in close contact with Western allies, while Greek missions remain active in the wider region.

The United States said Sunday it will not join any Israeli counterattack on Iran, with President Joe Biden warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "think carefully" about any escalation.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned the international community Sunday against deeper descent into conflict, addressing the Security Council during a meeting over Iran's weekend attack on Israel.

"Neither the region nor the world can afford more war," Guterres said.

"The Middle East is on the brink," he told the Security Council.

Israel and Iran accused one another Sunday at the United Nations of being the main threat to peace in the Middle East, each calling on the Security Council to impose sanctions on their sworn enemy.

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Greece " unequivocally condemns the attack against Israel" and calls for "restraint from all sides in order to avoid a wider regional conflict," government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Sunday.

Marinakis made the statement immediately after an emergency meeting of the inner cabinet on security issues (KYSEA).

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reached out to his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday stressing Turkey's aim to avoid further escalation in the Middle East following Iran's retaliatory measures against Israel Saturday night.

According to Turkish sources, Fidan specifically conveyed that "Turkey seeks an end to actions that heighten tensions in the region." 

Türkiye has told Iran that it does not want further escalation in the region following Tehran's attack against Israel late on April 13.

According to diplomatic sources, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on the phone on April 14.

Hamas has demanded a "clear written commitment" that Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip during the second of a three-phase ceasefire deal, a senior Egyptian official and a Hamas official said yesterday.

"We confirm our readiness to reach a deal regarding a serious exchange of prisoners between the two sides," Hamas said.