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Calls on Israel not to respond to Iran after its “clear success” in “practically neutralizing” Tehran's “unacceptable attack”
April 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, asked Israel this Wednesday to stop its military operations in the Gaza Strip and stressed that “a ceasefire is necessary”, while asking the Israeli authorities not to respond to the attacks carried out by Iran after the recent bombing of its Consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
“The war in Gaza was sparked by a barbaric and shameful attack by Hamas terrorists against the civilian population. However, a ceasefire is now necessary,” he said. “Israel must stop military operations, which have massively affected the Palestinian population,” she maintained.
Likewise, it has opened the door to sending Italian soldiers in case the United Nations creates “a new stabilization and assistance mission” in Gaza after the conflict. “In that case, peacekeeping troops could be necessary and Italy could play a role. Not at this moment,” he stressed in an interview with the Italian newspaper 'La Stampa'.
Tajani has also stated that Israel had a “clear success” in “practically neutralizing the effects of the unacceptable Iranian attack.” “I hope it stops here, consolidating this political and military success,” he said, before adding that his feeling is that the Israeli authorities “have not yet decided what to do” in response.
“Positive signs can be seen,” he highlighted, referring to the possibility that Israel will listen to statements by its allies asking to stop the escalation. “The Israelis are not insensitive to the requests of the G7 and, more generally, of the allied countries,” she explained.
“The results are palpable. The reaction against Iran is not visible for now and the offensive against Rafah has been postponed. Obviously, it is early and anything can happen, but there is hope,” he said, while warning that a Israel's response poses “a risk of unleashing a regional conflict that could be global in a few weeks.”
In this sense, Tajani has drawn a parallel with the situation arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has stressed that the Italian authorities “do not want to advance with their eyes closed, like unconscious sleepwalkers, towards a Third World War.”
“If each side thinks that the only way to present its case is to use military force, we will have to talk to them. Iran has great capabilities, but it would not prevail over Israel's, with the risk of devastating the areas in which its forces operate. allies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen,” he argued.
“For its part, Israel must be careful not to damage its relationship with the United States, which together with Europe does not want an uncontrolled expansion of this conflict,” he noted, while confirming that the situation in the Middle East will be addressed during the G7 meeting that will take place this Wednesday in Capri.
