Italian PM Meloni presses Netanyahu for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calls situation 'unjustifiable'
01 Aug 2025 12:46pm
Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni delivers her remarks during the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS 4), co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, in Addis Ababa on July 28, 2025.UN chief Antonio Guterres on July 28, 2025 said food must not be used as a weapon of war as world leaders gathered for a food summit in Africa, where 280 million people face hunger and starvation. (Photo by Solan Kolli / AFP)
LONDON - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza, describing the situation as "unsustainable and unjustifiable' during a phone call with her Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
"President Meloni insisted on the need to immediately cease hostilities given the situation in Gaza, which, she underlined, is unsustainable and unjustifiable,' the Italian government said in a statement on Wednesday.
The conversation also touched on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
"The conversation also provided an opportunity to reiterate the urgent need to guarantee full and unhindered humanitarian access to the civilian population, reaffirming Italy's efforts in this regard through the Food for Gaza initiative,' the statement added.
As part of its ongoing humanitarian support, Italy will receive another 50 Palestinian civilians and organise additional aid drops for those remaining in Gaza.
Despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, 2023, killing over 60,200 Palestinians.
The relentless bombardment has devastated infrastructure and worsened food insecurity across the enclave. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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