(Adnkronos) – US president Donald Trump’s peace plan to end Israel’s two-year-old war on Hamas in Gaza, and an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to the devastated Palestinian enclave was the focus of “long” phone talks Wednesday between foreign minister Antonio Tajani and Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
“We discussed the (20-point) plan presented by President Trump for peace in #Gaza. We support the mediation efforts of #Turkey,” Tajani wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“It is time to end the hostilities, ensure humanitarian assistance to the civilian population, and promote a lasting political solution that provides for the establishment of a Palestinian state,” the post continued.
“Italy and Turkey are closely following the #Flotilla headed to Gaza. The priority remains avoiding escalation,” Tajani continued.
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thurnberg and a number of Italian politicians, as well as lawyers and activists are aboard the 40-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla, which is the latest seaborne effort to try and reach Gaza and break Israel’s 18-year-old naval blockade of the enclave.
The flotilla expects to arrive on Thursday unless it is intercepted.
On Wednesday the flotilla – which was accompanied by Italian and Spanish warships to within 150 nautical miles of Gaza – accused Israel of intimidating some of its vessels in a series of “dangerous” manoeuvres.
The flotilla has raised tensions in recent days since it was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries.
Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday questioned the wisdom of the flotilla’s determination to reach Gaza at a potential turning point in efforts to end the war in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians.
“European support for the plan for Gaza is the important thing. We are awaiting Hamas’ response. And at this stage, faced with what could be a historic opportunity, I struggle to understand insistence on an initiative that has elements of danger and irresponsibility,” Meloni said on the sidelines of a European Union summit.
Leaders in Europe and the Middle East including the Palestinian Authority have welcomed the plan unveiled by Trump earlier this week, but Hamas has yet to give an official response to the blueprint, which would compel the Gaza-ruling Islamist Palestinian group to disarm.
Trump’s plan requires an immediate end to fighting, the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas as well as the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead – in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
The plan also says Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza, and leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state – something that Israel’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu rejects.
