Greece’s authorities have moved to immediately revoke the asylum status of a Palestinian national from Gaza, citing significant threats to national security. The decision follows the discovery of extensive video evidence showing the individual celebrating alongside terrorists during the Hamas-led massacres in Israeli kibbutzim on October 7, 2023.
The revocation was initiated by Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, after a coordinated effort with the European Jewish Association (EJA), Belgian authorities, and the Israeli Embassy in Athens. Greek officials identified incriminating photographs, videos, and social media posts in which the man openly praised terrorist activities.
The individual, identified as Mohanad Alkhatib, was granted international protection in Greece in March 2025 after initial security screenings yielded no red flags. However, the situation changed after Alkhatib traveled to Belgium and filed a secondary asylum claim. Belgian authorities rejected his application, designating him a threat to public order after discovering footage of him at the scene of the 2023 massacres.
Incriminating evidence for the Palestinian in Greece
Beyond the footage from October 7, further evidence emerged linking Alkhatib to high-level Hamas figures:
- Hamas leadership: Photographs show Alkhatib posing with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh months before Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran in 2024.
- Incitement from Europe: While in Europe, Alkhatib reportedly continued to post content glorifying Hamas and celebrating Iranian missile strikes against US interests in the region.
- The “journalist” cover: Although Alkhatib often posed in Gaza wearing “press” vests and carrying professional camera equipment, investigators found no evidence of published journalistic work, suggesting the gear was used as a cover for his proximity to combat operations.
The role of the EJA and Israeli diplomacy
The case was brought to Minister Plevris’ attention through a formal letter from the Israeli Ambassador to Athens, Noam Katz, who asserted that “an individual involved in the events of October 7 cannot be eligible for refugee status.”
Crucial support was provided by Ruth Daskalopoulou-Isaac, Director of European Affairs for the EJA, who facilitated the documentation of the findings. In a letter of thanks addressed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister Plevris, the EJA praised the Greek government’s “zero-tolerance stance against hate speech and the glorification of terrorism.”
Legal framework for revocation
The Greek Asylum Service finalized the revocation this morning under the provisions of Law 4939/2022. Specifically, Article 13, Paragraph 4 allows for the withdrawal of refugee status when an individual is “reasonably considered a danger to national security.”
Authorities emphasized that, while initial screenings in early 2025 did not reveal his past, the emergence of new digital evidence, including deleted TikTok profiles used to commemorate the 2023 attacks, provided the necessary legal grounds to terminate his protected status immediately.
