Italy is working to avert the threat
of a clash of civilizations after the outbreak of war between
Hamas and Israel, Premier Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on
Wednesday as she reported to parliament ahead of this week's EU
summit.
"Italy has a role as a bridge between Europe and the
Mediterranean to prevent us from falling into the trap of a
clash of civilizations that would have unimaginable
consequences," Meloni said.
Meloni said Hamas's aim "was not and could not be" the defence
of the Palestinian people.
She said the Palestinians were "being trampled on" by Hamas "to
provoke a wider conflict".
She said "working concretely, and with a set time-frame, on a
structural solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis would be
the most effective way to call Hamas' bluff in the eyes of the
Palestinians and help defeat it".
She reiterated Italy's call for Hamas to release the hostages it
took on the October 7 attack, "starting with women, children and
the elderly".
She also stressed the need for dialogue with Muslim countries.
"I decided to attend the Cairo peace conference for Gaza in
person (on Saturday), choosing to be the only G7 member nation
to participate with a head of government," she said
"This 'because I consider dialogue with Arab and Muslim
countries vital at this moment"
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