Meloni also renewed Italy’s support for Ukraine and said the international community needed to “raise its voice” on Venezuela.
She also called on the international community to do more against human trafficking.
“We affirm Israel’s right to defend itself against external attacks, like the horrible one of last October 7,” the PM told the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
“But at the same time, we ask Israel to respect international law, safeguarding the civilian population that is also a victim of Hamas and its destructive choices.”
In her speech, Meloni also expressed support for the Palestinian population and its right to a state.
She noted that, for this to happen soon, “it is necessary for Palestinians to entrust it to a leadership inspired by dialogue, the stabilisation of the Middle East and autonomy”.
Meloni cited the 2020 Abraham Accords as an example of “advantageous cohabitation and cooperation based on mutual recognition”.
She also called for a ceasefire in Gaza without further delay and the immediate release of Israeli hostages.
“We cannot watch tragedies like the ones of the past few days in the South and East of Lebanon, with the involvement of powerless civilians including numerous children,” she stressed.
Earlier, Meloni had spoken about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that “we cannot look the other way in front of Ukraine’s right to defend its borders, its sovereignty, its freedom”.
She said this “wound” had undermined “the international system” and is “having destabilising effects well beyond the borders” of Ukraine.
Italy’s prime minister also spoke about the situation in Venezuela.
“The international community can’t sit and watch while in Venezuela, nearly two months since the election … a brutal repression has taken place,” she said.
“[Venezuela has seen the death of] dozens of demonstrators, the arbitrary arrest of thousands of political opponents, the indictment and exile of the presidential candidate of the democratic opposition.”
The PM then highlighted the need to “declare a global war on human traffickers”.
“I’m happy that this appeal hasn’t been ignored and that at a G7 level an agreement has been made to coordinate [efforts] to dismantle these criminal networks.”
“The United Nations must do more, because these criminal organisations are recreating, under other forms, a slavery that this Assembly, at another time, had a fundamental role in eradicating.”
Meloni also spoke a reform of the UN Security Council, noting that it cannot be carried out without the respect of the “principles of equality, democracy and representativity”.
She also referenced the need for a new form of egalitarian cooperation embodied, according to Meloni, by her government’s proposed ‘Mattei Plan’ for Africa as well as global governance regarding artificial intelligence.
“Fate is challenging us,” she said.
“In the storm, we can show that we are up to the task given to us by history.
“Italy, as always, is ready to play its part,” she concluded, quoting 19th century Italian patriot Carlo Pisacane.
ANSA
