The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, held two telephone conversations this afternoon with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Mohammad Mustafa, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Varsen Aghabekian.
The Minister provided an update on the latest humanitarian initiatives undertaken by Italy, including a new medical evacuation of ill Palestinian children, along with their carers, planned in the coming weeks—totalling 50 individuals; an additional EUR 5 million allocated for the purchase of food supplies; the delivery of new humanitarian aid; and the organisation of airdrops of food aid in the coming days. Minister Tajani also recalled Italy’s diplomatic efforts towards the Israeli government to unblock stalled aid shipments and facilitate the entry of additional Italian supplies from Jordan.
He renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and reaffirmed Italy’s support for the ongoing mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
Minister Tajani expressed heartfelt solidarity with both interlocutors in light of the distressing images of suffering and destruction emerging from Gaza, and reaffirmed the Italian government’s support for the Palestinian National Authority—support which was reiterated during the United Nations Conference on the situation in Gaza that concluded yesterday in New York. Minister Aghabekian expressed her gratitude for Italy’s active contribution to the preparation of the Conference, notably through its co-chairmanship—alongside Indonesia—of the Working Group on Security. She also welcomed the final outcome document, which sets out concrete commitments in support of Palestinian Authority governance and the two-State solution.
Prime Minister Mustafa thanked Minister Tajani for the continued assistance provided to the people of Gaza and to Palestinian children in need of medical care, as well as for Italy’s efforts to unlock and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Minister Tajani extended an invitation to Minister Aghabekian to pay an official visit to Rome.
