Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Israel on Tuesday not to fall into the “trap” of retaliatory actions, expressing her deep concern about the situation in Lebanon and the risk of regional escalation.
In statements made during an official visit to China, Meloni stressed that the international community should continue sending messages of calm.
Both Israel and the United States have blamed Hezbollah for launching an Iranian-made “Falaq” rocket towards the town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 Druze children in a football field. Israel has threatened a strong retaliatory response, escalating tensions in the region, with the US exerting pressure to limit uncontrolled escalation.
Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Italy has taken significant steps in its stance toward the conflict. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy had ceased all arms shipments to Israel in response to the conflict. This decision aligns with broader European calls for humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow aid to reach civilians and to de-escalate the violence (Times of Israel, DW).
The international community, including European Union leaders, has been vocal about the need for both sides to adhere to international humanitarian law. EU leaders have called for pauses in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery and to protect civilians, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights amid the conflict (DW). Italy’s approach reflects these broader European concerns, advocating for diplomacy and restraint to prevent further escalation.
