Italian Prime Minister Meloni: Recognition of Palestine is now closer

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made statements regarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt. Meloni stated that Italy is ready to play its part in the regional peace process.

Following the signing ceremony of the Declaration of Intent for the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, attended by world leaders, Meloni addressed members of the Italian press covering the summit. Referring to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the signing ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, Meloni said, “Today is certainly a historic day. I am extremely proud that Italy is here today.”

Prime Minister Meloni emphasized that the ceasefire agreement that went into effect in Gaza is a success for US President Donald Trump. He said, “Trump has every right to say this is a great success. We hope the same for others, starting with the war in Ukraine. We must also thank the mediators who worked to achieve this outcome. That is, we must thank the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for hosting us today, and everyone else who encouraged this.”

In September, during the UN General Assembly, Meloni conditioned Italy's recognition of the State of Palestine on the "release of prisoners" and the "absence of Hamas from governing Gaza." When asked whether Rome's stance would change following the recent agreement on Gaza, he replied, "Frankly, if the plan is implemented, Italy's recognition of Palestine would be even closer. I aim for a State of Palestine, and therefore the recognition of the State of Palestine, of course, provided the conditions set by the parliament are met."

Meloni, signaling that they could increase their military presence in the region if the United Nations requests it, said, "On the security front, the Italian Carabinieri has been training the Palestinian Police for years, and we also participate in the European Union mission in Rafah. We can and are ready to increase this presence. This is already envisioned in the missions decree. We could even go as far as participating in a stabilization force."

Meloni stated that Italy could be involved in monitoring the ceasefire in the event of a possible UN resolution, saying, "If the resolution is approved and Italy's participation is requested, I will submit it to parliament, but this is my position. If requested, my political will is present."

Prime Minister Meloni reiterated Italy's readiness to do its part, saying, "But what interests me is finding concrete solutions. Truly, doing our part, because this is a great opportunity. Anyone who sincerely desires stability in the Middle East and the establishment of a just peace knows that this is not a time for show, but for action."

Meloni also stated that the Italian government is working on a document that includes areas where the country can contribute. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for swift and concrete action, not complacency.

US President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Israel and Hamas had approved the first phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza during ongoing negotiations in Egypt. The agreement, signed in Egypt, went into effect on October 10. Following the Israeli army's withdrawal to the "yellow line" area specified in the agreement, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was announced to have taken effect at 12:00 PM that same day.

The peace summit, focusing on the Gaza ceasefire agreement, was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Numerous heads of state attended the summit, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, US President Donald Trump , and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

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