(Adnkronos) – Israel’s over-20-month-old war in Gaza against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas is on the agenda during a visit by Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani to Washington on Tuesday centred on bilateral and transatlantic ties, according to a foreign ministry statement.
“The situation in Gaza will also be discussed, confirming the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages (believed to be 50), and the restoration of full humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip, to which Italy is ready to contribute through the Food for Gaza initiative,” said the statement.
Italy launched Food for Gaza last year with the Rome-based UN World food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the national civil protection agency.
“Stability in the Middle East also depends on a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, with regard to which Minister Tajani will reaffirm the importance of pursuing dialogue and diplomacy, as well as Italy’s willingness to foster dialogue between the United States and Iran,” the statement said.
Besides Gaza and Iran’s controversial uranium enrichment programme, Russia’s over-three-year-old invasion of Ukraine and the war-ravaged former Soviet republic’s reconstruction, Libya and Lebanon will a focus of Tajani’s talks with US counterpart Marco Rubio, Senate foreign relations chair Jim Risch and US trade representative Jamieson Greer.
Tajani’s talks will also focus on trade after US president Donald Trump threatened in a letter on Saturday to slap 30% tariffs on European Union countries from 1 August if the bloc fails to reach a deal with US negotiators by that date, the statement noted.
