Ministers in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government called to protect civilians, both Palestinian and Israeli, and suggested Israel target Hamas headquarter instead of civilians who have no fault in the situation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia/EPP) also reiterated that Hamas should be distinguished from the Palestinian population and that as a “criminal and terrorist organisation” it should be “eradicated from the territory” without endangering civilians.
Tajani explained that his government had suggested that Israel respond to the Hamas attack by hitting the group’s headquarters and avoid hitting civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, who bear no responsibility.
“I believe that at this time, we must work for a de-escalation (…) Just as the hostages have to be freed, especially the civilian hostages, who are not to blame for what is happening. As it applies to the Palestinian civilian population, it applies to the Israeli civilian population, with over 200 people in the hands of Hamas. You have to keep the civilians out applies to both Israel and Hamas”, Tajani added.
The government’s line of supporting Israel while also protecting civilians caught in the crossfire was also laid down by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR), who travelled to Lebanon on Monday to visit the Italian contingent’s base after a rocket, apparently deflected, hit a UN military base in Naqoura a few days ago.
“We all have to work so there is no escalation (…) This is the first time I have seen such choral activism to prevent the situation from worsening. It means that some things that have happened in recent years have changed mindsets”, Crosetto told RaiNews24.
Italy’s government is working to prevent a war between the West and the Islamic world, Crosetto said, while clearly distinguishing Hamas from the Palestinian people, pointing out that Hamas is a “terrorist organisation that aims to destroy Israel”.
The diverted rocket that hit the UN base in Naqoura on 15 October without causing damage raised concerns, and Crosetto immediately reassured that “should there be any danger”, the Italian military would return to Italy.
The minister also clarified the “rules of engagement” of the mission in Lebanon, according to which Italian military personnel are “bearers of peace, security and dialogue” and thus not ready to fight. Forty-nine countries currently have contingents in Lebanon to keep the peace between the two neighbours, and more than 1,000 Italian soldiers are stationed in the Middle East.
After visiting the Shamaa military base and the blue helmets of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), Crosetto travelled to Beirut for meetings with Lebanese institutional representatives.
(Federica Pascale | Euractiv.it)
Read more with EURACTIV
Spain’s Jewish community denounces the biggest increase in anti-Semitism
Source: euractiv.com
