Italy condemns Hamas terror, says defence Israel's right

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 7 - The Italian government has condemned the surprise attack launched by Hamas in the Gaza Strip against Israel on Saturday morning in which so far over 20 people are said to have been killed and over 300 injured.
    "The Italian government is closely following the brutal attack taking place in Israel," said a statement from the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi.
    "It condemns with the utmost firmness the ongoing terror and violence against innocent civilians. Terror will never prevail.
    We support Israel's right to defend itself," the statement added.
    Staring early Saturday at least 5,000 rockets were fired from Gaza into central and southern Israel, including the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
    Dozens of Hamas fighters also entered Israeli from the Strip using paragliders or from the sea.
    "The government condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on Israel," said Italian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
    "People's lives, the security of the region and the resumption of any political process are at risk. Hamas must cease this barbaric violence immediately," he continued in a statement.
    "We support Israel's right to exist and defend itself," Tajani added.
    Meanwhile, Italian ambassador to Israel Sergio Barbanti said the embassy is "following the events" and that all Italians in Israel are well.
    "We are following the situation and are assisting those compatriots who need it. What we are seeing is very serious," said Barbanti on the sidelines of the ComoLake2023 - Next Generation Innovations conference taking place in Cernobbio (Como).
    "The network has been activated and for the moment all our compatriots are well," he added. (ANSA).