Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stands by Israel at G7

World News

By Rich Calder

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stood by Israel Saturday when pressed why the G7 hasn’t condemned the Jewish state over civilian deaths caused by its attacks on Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

“I think we need to remember who started all this, and it wasn’t Israel, but someone who killed civilians, women and children,” the Italian leader said on the last day of the G7 summit held in southern Italy, referring to Hamas’ horrific Oct. 7 attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and sparked the bloody war.

Meloni called for all parties to work towards peace but accused Israel of falling into a “trap” in its counter-responses to Oct. 7.

“For the trap of Hamas was to isolate it. It seems it is working,” Meloni said, adding that Israel’s friends “need to give clear words to Israel, for its safety … and this is exactly what Italy is doing.”

Palestinian health officials allege Israel’s attacks in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians – but refuse to give the breakdown of civilians and fighters.

Meloni on Saturday also called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cease-fire offer for Ukraine mere “propaganda” while wrapping up a G7 summit that featured a deal reached to provide war-torn Ukraine with a $50 billion loan.

“If President Putin’s proposal is: We are willing to have a peace negotiation if Ukraine recognizes the invasion of Ukraine and gives up the occupied parts, … [it] doesn’t seem particularly effective to me as a proposal,” said Meloni.

“[It] seems to me more like a propaganda move than a real one,” the conservative pol said.

The Russian president said Friday he’d “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and start negotiations if Kyiv withdraws troops from the four regions Moscow annexed in 2022 and renounces plans to join NATO.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was one of several world leaders who attended the G7 as a guest, has rejected the offer, claiming it’s an ultimatum by Putin to surrender more territory.

With Post wires.