Italy has resumed funding for UNRWA: this was announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani while meeting PNA Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa at the Farnesina. “Italy, thanks to its balanced positions, wants to play a bridging role and will work with ever greater intensity to bring this phase of the military conflict in Gaza to an end. The Palestinian Prime Minister’s visit to Rome, which is the first in Europe since its establishment”. Antonio Tajani, Foreign Minister, met the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Mohammed Mustafa, at the Farnesina to discuss the conflict in Gaza. “I informed Mustafa – we read in a note – that the Government has arranged new financing for the Palestinian population, for a total of 35 million euros, which are in addition to what has already been done in response to the crisis. Of these, 5 million will be allocated to UNRWA: following the work carried out by the independent Commission chaired by the former French Minister Colonna and the measures to protect the principle of neutrality, Italy has decided to resume financing specific projects intended for assistance to Palestinian refugees, but only after rigorous controls that guarantee that not even a cent can risk ending up supporting terrorism”, while 30 million euros will be dedicated to the “Food for Gaza” initiative.
In his meeting with Mustafa, Tajani confirmed the Italian Government’s full support for the Palestinian administration. “On our part there is full support for the PNA. We are also committed as G7 presidency to work for a season of peace, we strongly ask for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We greatly appreciated the choice of Rome as the first stop on his journey , a gesture of friendship that we fully reciprocate”, said Tajani, according to a note from the Farnesina. Minister Mustafa replied to Tajani “we are very proud that our visit to Europe began from Italy. We appreciate Minister Tajani, his commitment to peace and to the political process”.
During the meeting, we read again in the Farnesina note, Tajani announced that, after the first two aid packages of 20 million already allocated, the Government has decided to prepare a new, third package which, from the 20 million already decided in the last few weeks, it was decided to increase to 30 million euros. The “Food for Gaza” initiative, which the Vice President of the Council had presented to the Israeli Foreign Minister Katz during his visit to Rome on 7 April, was activated in coordination with FAO, WFP and FICROSS to bring concrete help, in terms of food security, to the Palestinian population . This is further support that adds to the work done by Italy on the humanitarian front during the past few months to exfiltrate 156 Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip, including 58 injured minors who have benefited from the care of our hospitals and their companions in Italy. . In parallel, the collaboration with the UAE remains active from a medical point of view with the sending of Italian personnel to the United Arab Emirates, where our doctors contributed to visiting and operating on some pediatric patients with serious trauma, transported from Gaza.
“We believe that it is necessary to work on the “two peoples, two States” solution within the framework of a broader political process that leads to peace, the result of coordinated regional action, with strong support from the international community. It is essential to address both the The humanitarian emergency of the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations to have their own state, and the equally legitimate security needs of Israel must be an integral part of this path” declared the minister and deputy prime minister. Tajani reiterated that Italy will continue to ensure, as in the past, full support for the Palestinian Authority and its strengthening, as demonstrated by the initiatives for the development of autonomous capabilities in the governance and security sector.
The meeting with Meloni
It was then the turn of the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, to meet Mustafa. The Prime Minister – according to a note from Palazzo Chigi – reiterated Italian support for all ongoing efforts for a sustainable ceasefire, the release of all the hostages in the hands of Hamas and a leap in quality in humanitarian assistance to the population of Gaza. In this last regard, the strong Italian commitment to the civilian population of Gaza was underlined – it is added – also through further funding for the ‘Food for Gaza’ initiative. During the meeting Meloni reiterated the need to restart a political process that leads to a lasting peace based on the two-state solution.