(Adnkronos) – Italy has praised a “concrete” US proposal for a truce in Israel’s war against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, which focuses on Israeli hostage releases, and has vowed to support US, Egyptian and Qatari efforts to mediate an end to the 20-month-old conflict.
“The truce proposal put forward by Washington is a concrete proposal for a permanent ceasefire that we support and hope will be accepted by Hamas and Israel,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani told MPs during question time on Wednesday.
Tajani underlined Italy’s support for the mediation efforts “of Egypt, and Qatar” and said he is “in constant contact with all the key players,” including France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, whom he met earlier in the day.
“Italy will do everything necessary within the G7 and the European Union to support this mediation,” Tajani said.
The minister acknowledged the complexity of the situation, however.
“There are many issues to be resolved: the distribution of aid, the deployment of Israeli forces, and the sustainability of the truce,” he said.
Amid “constant mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, dialogue, clarity, and strategic vision are needed,” Tajani said.
US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that the anticipated ceasefire agreement would involve a 60-day truce with the release of 10 living and nine dead hostages.
Witkoff expressed optimism for ceasefire deal by the end of the week, saying the obstacles to an agreement had decreased from four to one.
