“In light of the worsening crisis in the Middle East, I urgently convened a summit at Palazzo Chigi yesterday to discuss the situation and assess necessary measures,” stated Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the opening of a Council of Ministers meeting. The session included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who joined remotely, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, who oversees security services, heads of intelligence, the Prime Minister’s diplomatic advisor, and Italy’s Ambassador to Israel, Luca Ferrari, also participating remotely.
Condemning the Iranian attack on Israel, Meloni expressed shared deep concern over the unfolding events and called on all regional actors to act responsibly to prevent further escalation. “Italy will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution, particularly in its role as current G7 chair,” she added. “This afternoon, I have convened a meeting of G7 leaders. Our goal is to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon border through the full implementation of Resolution 1701. In this context, Italy has invited the United Nations Security Council to consider strengthening UNIFIL’s mandate to ensure the security of the Israel-Lebanon border in line with current UN resolutions.”
Meloni also emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, in accordance with Resolution 2735. “In yesterday’s meeting, we also discussed measures to ensure the safety of Italian citizens and UNIFIL military personnel. The Government’s task force has been placed on permanent standby to continuously monitor the situation and promptly take necessary actions,” she concluded.