Italy to make every effort to prevent widening of Israeli-Palestine conflict: Foreign minister

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Italy will make every effort to prevent the widening of the Israel-Palestine conflict into a regional one, the country's foreign minister said Thursday.

Alluding to fears that the Lebanese group Hezbollah could attack Israel from Lebanon, Antonio Tajani stressed that preventing the expansion of the conflict is important to create conditions for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine dispute during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, according to a statement by the Italian Foreign Ministry.

Tajani also reaffirmed Italy’s unconditional commitment to the security of Israel in the face of attacks by the Palestinian Hamas group.

Tajani announced later on X that he would visit Israel on Friday to show solidarity with Israelis wounded by Hamas attacks.

He added that he would then visit Jordan.

In a related development, he also announced on X that he held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan to discuss how to prevent the conflict from spreading to the region and the need to release hostages held by Hamas.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began on Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended to cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.