“Sadly, we have just learnt, after his parents reported it, that a third Italo-Israeli citizen, Nir Forti, is missing,” said Tajani, who is also Deputy Prime Minister.
“I have just spoken with the family to whom I assured the utmost assistance,” he said on X.
The couple, whose surname is Kipnis, were reported missing earlier this week.
They are feared taken hostage by the Palestinian militants.
Tajani said Wednesday that he asked Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit during a meeting in Cairo to help make sure the Israel-Hamas war does not spread to Lebanon and to join efforts to secure the release of the hostages Hamas has taken.
“This mission to Cairo stems from Italy’s diplomatic effort to help bring about a return to peace in the Middle East and Israel,” Tajani said.
“This morning I met the Secretary-General of the Arab League, to whom I reiterated my firm condemnation of Hamas’s terrorist attack.
“As far as Italy is concerned, Hamas is responsible for what is happening.
“But I also asked for everything possible to be done to de-escalate [the situation] and to contain the conflict and prevent it from spreading to Lebanon”.
He said he raised the case of the Italian-Israeli couple.
“I asked for absolute priority to be given to saving the lives of the hostages held by Hamas and I pressed about the case of the two Italians with dual citizenship who are probably among the hostages,” Tajani said.
“I spoke to their son this morning and I confirmed that the Italian government is doing everything possible to free the two citizens who are probably hostages, although we don’t have news of them.
“We are working to avoid a tragic end for the hostages.
“We are in favour of humanitarian corridors for [Hamas’] prisoners.
“I’ll meet [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi and [Foreign Minister Sameh] Shoukry and I’ll ask them both for action to free the hostages.
“The Egyptian government has all our support and backing in the effort”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed the importance of working for a de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in a telephone conversation Tuesday night with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the PM’s office at Palazzo Chigi said Wednesday.
“During the exchange of views, the utmost emphasis was given to the need to work for a rapid de-escalation in order to avoid further escalation of the conflict and to support the ongoing mediation efforts for the release of the hostages,” the office said in a statement.
The call was part of ongoing contacts with major international partners and with the main actors in the region following Hamas’ aggression against Israel, Palazzo Chigi said.
ANSA
