(Adnkronos) – Italy has condemned the ongoing killings of civilians in war-shattered Gaza as Israel on Monday ordered Palestinians to leave northern part of the Strip ahead of an intensification of military action.
“I hope that a ceasefire in Gaza is reached as soon as possible because what is happening is unacceptable, including the violation of international humanitarian law by Israel,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani told the Canale Cinque TV channel’s Morning News.
Tajani’s comments came after at least 86 people were killed and over 400 people injured in Israeli air strikes across Gaza between Friday and Saturday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The victims of the attacks included at least 11 people, among them children, who died in a strike near a stadium in Gaza City that was being used to house homeless families living in tents, the al-Shifa hospital and witnesses told media.
“We are friends of Israel but Israel does not listen to many appeals, Tajani said.
Hamas must return to Israel the remaining hostages it is holding, Tajani underlined.
“But Israel must also understand that we cannot continue with this massacre of the civilian population that has nothing to do with Hamas,” Tajani said, reiterating that Gaza’s ruling Islamist Palestinian group uses Palestinians as “human shields”.
Hamas has been “substantially defeated” in the almost 20-month-old war, Tajani said. Israel launched its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza after the 7 October 2023 cross-border attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
“The time has come to reach a ceasefire, also to allow aid to reach the Palestinian civilian population,” Tajani underlined, recalling that together with Qatar and Egypt, Italy is the country that has welcomed the most Palestinians.
“Just the other evening, another group of children arrived and they are receiving treatment in our top paediatric hospitals. We also welcomed their families so that they can be close to their children and help them,” he said.
“We also welcomed two young people: a student from the University of Siena and a doctor who is completing her studies at the Policlinico Gemelli Hospital in Rome,” Tajani stated.
