Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani will travel to Ashdod, Israel, tomorrow alongside Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini to attend the reception ceremony for the aid shipment donated by Italy to the World Food Programme (WFP) and essential supplies destined for Gaza as part of the Food for Gaza initiative. The shipment includes 15 trucks allocated to the WFP, as well as 14,5 tonnes of essential goods, including water distribution containers and winter relief supplies such as mattresses and medium-to-high thermal resistance blankets. The ceremony will be attended by WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau, who will receive the donations.
“Italy reaffirms its frontline role in the humanitarian response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza,” stated Minister Tajani, recalling that “since 7 October, Italy has allocated €104 million for humanitarian and early recovery efforts to address the crisis and support development in the West Bank, in addition to organising humanitarian transport, particularly within the Food for Gaza initiative”.
During his visit, Tajani will hold a bilateral meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. This marks the third meeting between the two ministers, following Tajani’s mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on 20 January and Sa’ar’s visit to Rome on 14 January. The discussions will focus on the implementation of the ceasefire and the prospects for resuming the peace process and rebuilding Gaza. Tajani emphasised that “every effort must be made to consolidate the ceasefire while working with all regional actors to restart the political process towards a two-state solution, which is essential for achieving lasting peace in the region”.
While in Israel, Minister Tajani will also meet with Italian military personnel and experts deployed in Palestine as part of the EUBAM Rafah, MIADIT Palestine, and EUPOL COPPS missions. Seven Carabinieri officers are deployed in the EU-led EUBAM Rafah mission, alongside two additional Italian experts already present. The mission resumed operations on 31 January, with a mandate to assist the Palestinian Authority in reopening the Rafah border crossing. The bilateral MIADIT Palestine mission involves ten Italian military personnel providing training for Palestinian police forces, while the EUPOL COPPS mission focuses on the reform of Palestinian security services. “Our military personnel and experts on the ground are a testament to Italy’s concrete commitment to fostering security between Israel and Palestine. I will personally convey the Government’s gratitude for their daily efforts in supporting the civilian population and contributing to the stabilisation of the Middle East”.
