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Calling out Italy
Italy’s PM at G7 summit: ‘Italy is a friend of Israel’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrapped up the three-day global event by discussing the core points of the group’s final communique.
Concerning Gaza, the document stressed the G7’s support for a ceasefire deal laid out by US President Joe Biden. It also said that Israel “must comply with its obligation under international law” and “refrain from” launching an offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.
Yet, it stopped short of condemning Israel for its conduct during this war, which is currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice – the world’s highest court – in a genocide case being brought by South Africa against Israel.
In light of the absence of strong language towards Israel’s actions in Gaza, Al Jazeera asked the prime minister what it would take for the G7 to condemn Israel or to consider steps similar to those taken against Russia, such as sanctions or a ban on weapon sales to Israel.
Meloni dodged the question. And while she said that Palestinians have the right to have their own state, she made it clear that Italy is a “friend of Israel”. “Now, what we have to do is to work for peace and it is exactly what we’re doing and work for peace we have to dialogue and we have to recognise the right of Israel to be safe,” Meloni told Al Jazeera.
How about recognize the right of Palestinians to live.
Qatar, Egypt planning ceasefire talks with Hamas: White House official
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that mediators from Qatar and Egypt plan to engage with Hamas soon to see if there is still a way to push ahead with the ceasefire proposal offered by US President Joe Biden.
Sullivan said he spoke with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and that they would speak again about Gaza tomorrow while both are in Switzerland for the Ukraine peace summit.
Hamas has welcomed the ceasefire proposal and is looking to secure an end to the war, a demand Israel still rejects.
Sullivan said that US officials have examined Hamas’s response closely. He said the next step will be for Qatari and Egyptian mediators to talk to Hamas and “go through what can be worked with and what really can’t be worked with”.
“We anticipate a back-and-forth between the mediators and Hamas. We’ll see where we stand at that point. We will keep consulting with the Israelis and then hopefully, at some point next week, we’ll be able to report to you where we think things stand and what we see as being the next step to try to bring this to closure,” Sullivan said.
There's about as much chance of Putin signing a peace deal as Netanyahu signing on a permanent ceasefire. But you have the means to bring this to closure Sullivan, you just don't want to.
