Salvini condemns Erdogan for ‘justifying attacks’ by Hamas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Hamas a liberation group fighting to protect their land and freedom, which Vice-Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini (League/ID) called ‘disgusting’ on Wednesday, adding that these words will not help de-escalate the conflict.

Erdogan called a “liberation group and mujahideen fighting to protect their lands and citizens” and not a terrorist organisation.

Salvini called Erdogan’s words “serious and disgusting” and stressed that they certainly do not help de-escalation of the conflict, which is the goal of most European democracies, including Italy.

“I will propose to my colleague Antonio Tajani (Foreign Minister, Forza Italia/EPP) to send a formal protest and summon the Ambassador of Turkey”, Salvini said.

Tajani adopted a more moderate stance and announced a meeting with Salvini to discuss developments in the Middle East crisis, clarifying that the Italian government’s position is clear: against Hamas, in support of Israel and close to civilians of both sides.

“For us, Hamas is a terrorist organisation”, the minister said.

According to the leader of +Europe, Senator Emma Bonino, Erdogan’s statements should be read as a warning: We are ready to go in, be careful.”

“It is an ideological goal, which is to wipe Israel off the face of the earth”, Bonino clarified.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR) on Wednesday spoke in the Senate for communications on the European Council to be held Thursday and Friday in Brussels. The Middle East issue was also addressed on this occasion.

“We are very concerned about the fate of the hostages in the hands of Hamas”, Meloni said, strongly calling for the immediate release of all other hostages, starting with women, children and the elderly.

With respect to Israel’s reaction to the Hamas attack, Meloni said, “A state’s reaction should never be motivated by feelings of revenge. A state bases its reaction on precise security reasons, commensurate with its force and protecting the civilian population. This is the boundary in which a state’s reaction in the face of terrorism must remain, and I am confident that this is also the will of the state of Israel.”

Also on Wednesday, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR) met with a delegation of family members of some Israelis murdered or kidnapped by Hamas in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. The delegation was accompanied by Israel’s ambassador to Rome, Alon Bar.

“My commitment to get the hostages freed goes beyond my deep friendship with Israel, it is a commitment I make because we have to fight these atrocities. And it’s a commitment that I will continue to keep alive because it’s like they are my relatives”, Crosetto said.

“What I can do is try to talk to those who have relations with Hamas and try every action I can to free the hostages. I have done this in the countries I have been to and I will continue to do it as if they are all my family members”, he added.

(Federica Pascale | Euractiv.it)