Hamas's Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis was a consequence of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in an interview Saturday with Milan newspaper Il Giornale.
Asked whether she feared that tensions around the world would lead to World War III, Meloni replied: “I think that if Russia had not invaded Ukraine, in all likelihood Hamas would not have launched such an attack against Israel. “
The Italian Prime Minister said: “It was inevitable that such a serious violation of the international law-based system, especially by a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would have far-reaching consequences for other areas and quadrants of the world.” ..[like] Middle East.
“If international legality is not restored in Ukraine, outbreaks of conflict will continue to multiply,” Meloni continued. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during a press conference after their meeting at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, March 10, 2023. (Source: Portal/GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE)
Meloni also discussed the prospects for an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the 134 remaining hostages captured by Hamas terrorists and taken to the Gaza Strip on October 7.
“Without a longer ceasefire and a solution to the hostage crisis, it is not possible to revitalize the political perspective of two peoples and two states,” Meloni said. A new and updated draft agreement to release the 134 remaining Gaza hostages was reportedly negotiated at a meeting between representatives of the United States, Israel, Egypt and Qatar in Paris on Saturday.
Meloni: Israel's harsh response to the Hamas massacre led to isolation
The prime minister also argued that Israel's increasing “isolation in Western public opinion” was the result of Israel's harsh response to the October 7 massacre.
“The brutal attack by Hamas, the massacre of civilians, including children and the elderly, and the cruelty with which this massacre was carried out, pushed Israel to respond so harshly that it led to isolation in both the Middle East and the Middle East led.” in Western public opinion.
“That is why those who, like us, advocate de-escalation do so primarily in the interests of Israel and for an immediate end to the crisis,” Meloni said. Finding a lasting solution to the problem is in the interests of everyone, both Israel and Palestine.”
Meloni went on to say that Italy had “taken measures” to reduce tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, “particularly with regard to Hezbollah’s positions.”