Italy extends support for cease-fire in Gaza

Rome: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday extended her country’s support to reaching a sustainable cease-fire in Gaza.

In a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Rome, Meloni said she is supporting international efforts for the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and towards a drastic improvement of the distribution of humanitarian aid for Gaza’s civilian population.

Italy will increase its financing to the Food for Gaza initiative it launched in collaboration with several international humanitarian organizations, aimed at getting more aid inside the blockaded enclave, her office said.

“During the meeting, Premier Meloni has also reiterated the need to restart a political process which would lead to a lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” it added.

Separately, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Mustafa that the Italian government has earmarked €35 million of new financing for Palestinian civilians, of which €5 million will go to the UN Palestinian agency (UNRWA), according to Italian media.