Meloni says fears Israel's increasing isolation

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 20 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday she feared Israel's increasing isolation over its plans to launch a ground offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah where over a million Palestinians have taken refuge amid looming fears of starvation unless key aid is let in.
    "It is important to remember who started the conflict," Meloni said in the House, during her reply in the debate on her communications ahead of the European Council, referring to the brutal and unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Isreal on October 7 that killed, raped and dismembered 1,200 people and took 230 Israeli and foreign hostages.
    "But I also think there are some things that need to be done.
    "On which Italy is also trying to have a clear position.
    "Particularly on what is happening in Gaza.
    "We fear an increasing isolation of Israel," she said after the Palestinian civilian death toll in Israel's retaliatory campaign passed 31,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.
    "Also in Israel's interest we must clearly reiterate our opposition to a military ground operation in Rafah that could have catastrophic effects".
    In other remarks on Gaza, Meloni said "full light" must be shed on the Palestinian refugee aid organisation UNRWA, the alleged participation of about a dozen of its staffers in the Hamas attack, and the alleged misallocation of funds, before any funding to the organisation could be restored.
    She said she disagreed with Italian Left leader Nicola Fratoianni on immediately restoring UNRWA funds.
    "Until full light is shed on the use of the resources, we must not make this mistake," she said.
    "That does not mean not addressing civilians in Gaza: while we suspend the funds to UNRWA, other associations are operating, and we have transferred 20 million euros to the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
    "And today we are set to earmark further aid for Food for Gaza in order to better coordinate the aid." In other remarks related to the Middle East conflict, Meloni said she found it "concerning" that Turin university's Senate had decided not to take part in a scientific tender with Israel in protest at the civilian deaths in Gaza, after pro-Palestinian leftwing collectives occupied the Senate building.
    She said that "if institutions bend to these methods we risk having many problems". (ANSA).