Firm condemnation of Oct 7 attack says Mattarella

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 6 - Italy firmly condemns the Hamas attacks on Israel last October 7, President Sergio Mattarella said Sunday while saying that the population of Gaza must be sheltered from the war and that there must be a definitive negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.
    "The barbaric attack conducted by Hamas against defenseless Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 has aroused firm condemnation and strong indignation in Italy and around the world," said Mattarella, underlining among other things that it is "more necessary than ever to reach an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the series of horrors that have occurred since October 7 of last year and to avoid the widening of the conflict, a prospect that recent events unfortunately make close and concrete. " He went on to say: "We are deeply concerned about the condition of civilians in Gaza, whose population has suffered unspeakable loss and suffering and has the right to be spared the destruction and violence of war." Finally, the Italian head of State stressed: "A definitive negotiated solution is needed between Israel and Palestine which, with the help of the international community, provides for the creation of two sovereign and independent States. This is essential to guarantee lasting peace and security for the two peoples and for the entire region, and to prevent the hostility, aversion and resentment that have built up in recent months from producing new and increasingly dramatic explosions of violence throughout the Middle East. It is a responsibility that, if it falls, first and foremost, to Israelis and Palestinians, must involve all peace-loving peoples, so that the horror of the past is not repeated". (ANSA).