Italy’s foreign minister says Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians 'disproportionate'

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday that Israel’s reaction against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza conflict has been disproportionate and asked Tel Aviv to “avoid retaliation against the civilian population.”

"At this point, Israel’s reaction is disproportionate, there are too many victims who have nothing to do with Hamas," Tajani told public broadcaster RAI’s Radio1.

The Italian minister, however, clarified he does not believe that Israel is perpetrating a "genocide" in the Palestinian territories.

"But Israel is making a mistake because it’s causing too many civilian victims," he added. "We need to aim for the liberation of hostages and stop the violence of Israeli attacks."

The Israeli military rescued two hostages from the Gaza Strip early Monday in an operation that also killed at least 67 Palestinians in airstrikes, according to Palestinian hospital officials.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has surpassed 28,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. More than 68,000 people have been wounded in the war, of them 11,000 who need urgent evacuation for treatment out of Gaza, the ministry said.

The war began with the Hamas attack into Israel on Oct. 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 abducted. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.

In late 2023 South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The UN court, in its interim January ruling, said South Africa’s claims are plausible. It ordered provisional measures for Israel’s government to desist from genocidal acts, and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.