(Adnkronos) – Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella on Friday called for humanitarian aid for Gaza and the rebuilding of the war-shattered coastal enclave with international efforts involving Arab states and a two-state solution to the long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We must proceed with great determination to provide humanitarian aid and rebuild Gaza, and to create two states in the region,” Mattarella told Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas during talks in Rome.
“These objectives require the disarmament of (Gaza’s ruling Palestinian Islamist group) Hamas and the robust involvement of Arab countries,” Mattarella told Abbas during the talks with Abbas at the Qurinal presidential Palace.
Mattarella urged rapid action to implement the accord signed by Egypt and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 9 October based on US president Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the two-year Gaza conflict.
“We must act quickly to prevent the enemies of peace, on both sides, from reorganising. It is essential to support the Sharm el-Sheikh peace plan, upholding the ceasefire on both sides”.
Mattarella also told Abbas the deadly violence towards Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the occupied West bank was “unacceptable”.
The PA is working for an end to the violence and for peaceful coexistence with Israel, which it recognised in 1988 and 1993 under the Oslo accords, Abbas told Mattarella.
“We are against hatred, violence and terrorism and want our own state alongside Israel…which must now recognise a Palestinian state and our territory,” Abbas said.
Hamas – “a terrorist movement” – must disarm, Abbas said.
“The group must have no future role because it does not believe in peace,” Abbas underlined.
Abbas is in Rome for meetings with top office-bearers and also held talks on Friday with premier Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi – the prime minister’s office – where the two leaders walked arm in arm as Abbas received an honour salute from an Italian navy division.
