Italian Prime Minister Meloni voices alarm over the escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza
In a significant development, dozens of ships are scheduled to set sail from Spain on August 31, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. This move comes amidst the ongoing conflict in the region, which has claimed the lives of over 62,000 Palestinians as of August 2025.
The Israeli military offensive, which began after attacks on October 7, 2023, has resulted in numerous casualties, with over 156,000 injured. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that the death toll includes those killed in both direct combat and subsequent humanitarian impacts of the siege and bombings in Gaza.
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has expressed deep concern over the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the unjustifiable and unacceptable nature of the humanitarian crisis. In response, Meloni has reaffirmed her commitment to humanitarian aid through the Food for Gaza initiative. This initiative includes aerial launches and the evacuation of children who need medical attention.
Meloni's concern for the region is shared by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has expressed gratitude towards Italy for its role in providing humanitarian aid and its positions adopted. In a call with Meloni, Abbas emphasized the need to immediately cease hostilities to continue providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza.
In a joint agreement, Meloni and Abbas have also agreed to meet in New York within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly. The agreement also stipulates that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) must release all hostages and accept that it will have no future in the government of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, protests against the plan to occupy the city of Gaza have been held in Tel Aviv, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to voice their opposition.
Despite the ongoing conflict, no information has been provided regarding the Israeli Army's response to the call by Egyptian footballer Mo Salah regarding the killing of the Palestinian footballer Suleiman al Obeid, or Mark Rutte's assumption that the territorial situation of Ukraine will be a matter to be addressed in a possible agreement with Russia.
References:
[1] The New York Times. (2024). Israel-Gaza Conflict: Timeline of Events. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/article/gaza-israel-conflict-timeline.html
[2] The Lancet. (2024). The humanitarian crisis in Gaza: A systematic review of the health and social effects of the 2023 Israeli military offensive. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00454-8/fulltext
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025). Gaza death toll surpasses 62,000, UN says. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/gaza-death-toll-surpasses-62000-un-says
In the midst of the escalating war-and-conflicts in the region, politics and general-news remain centered around the ongoing crisis in Gaza, with Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, advocating for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appreciates Italy's efforts and calls for an immediate end to hostilities to continue providing essential amenities to the Gaza population.
