The Italian Prime Minister blamed Russia for the war in Gaza, Moscow responded 0
(Dan Tri) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Moscow is responsible for the conflict between Israel and the armed group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Photo: Reuters).
In an interview with il Giornale newspaper published on February 24, Prime Minister Meloni said that Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine seems to have encouraged Hamas to conduct a large-scale attack on Israel.
Israel then carried out retaliatory attacks, causing a fierce war in the Gaza Strip over the past few months.
The Italian leader accused the military operation conducted by Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, against Ukraine of violating international law and shaking the entire global security system.
She said that such a move would certainly `have a ripple effect on other regions of the world, from the Middle East to the Balkans, to Africa`.
`If Russia had not attacked Ukraine, it is likely that Hamas would not have launched such an attack against Israel,` she said.
Russia launched a special military campaign against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, citing the need to protect the people of Donbass, after 8 years of separatist forces in Donetsk and Lugansk confronting the Kiev government.
Moscow also cited other reasons for the decision, including Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.
Russia claims to have the goal of `demilitarization and de-fascization` of its neighboring country.
Hamas launched attacks on Israeli-controlled settlements nearly a year and a half after the conflict between Moscow and Kiev broke out.
The Hamas attack claimed the lives of about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians.
Israel responded with a massive bombing campaign against Gaza, followed by a ground campaign that is still ongoing.
In her interview, Ms. Meloni predicted that `if international law is not re-established in Ukraine, conflict will continue to increase.`
Ms. Meloni declared: `A just and lasting peace can only be achieved if Italy, Europe and the West continue to help Ukraine.`
Ms. Meloni’s statement was met with strong criticism from former President and Vice Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is still open to peace negotiations, but emphasized that Kiev needs to accept the `new territorial reality`, which means recognizing Russia’s control over the Crimean peninsula and the four newly annexed regions.
