“Concretely, I would like to reiterate Italy’s readiness, in cooperation with our friends in the United Arab Emirates, to welcome Palestinian minors requiring hospital treatment,” said Tajani at the Gaza aid conference in Paris.
“We must deploy all possible means to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza” and “Italy is ready to play its part,” he continued.
Tajani recalled that Italy has already sent two military aircraft carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza to Al-Arish in Egypt for distribution through the Egyptian Red Crescent.
“We plan to further strengthen our humanitarian activities” on behalf of Palestinians, he added, stressing that “it is essential to emphasise that Hamas and its fanatical ideology do not represent the Palestinian population”.
“Our position must unequivocally reflect this fact” and “it is imperative to protect all civilians at all times, in strict compliance with international humanitarian law,” concluded said Tajani.
In addition to the two humanitarian aid flights on Wednesday, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said a navy hospital ship was about to set sail for the Middle East in what he described as a “concrete signal” that Italy is “close to the Palestinian people not only in words but also in deeds”.
ANSA
