Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni informed the country’s parliament today about the positions her government will take at the European Union Summit, which will take place tomorrow, Thursday, and the day after tomorrow, Friday, in Brussels.

“The rights of the Palestinian people are being harmed by Hamas, terrorism cannot be tolerated under any circumstances”the Italian Prime Minister emphasized while adding at the same time that, “however difficult it may be, a state’s reaction should not be inspired by a feeling of revenge”.

She appealed to Israel in favor of the protection of places of worship located in Gaza, including Christian churches.

She stated that her country will exercise all possible control because “European aid to the Palestinian people must not end up in the hands of terrorists.” “We are working so that all European citizens can leave Gaza and our position is that the political solution of the two states must be based on the full recognition of the right to exist of the state of Israel”, underlined the head of the Italian government. In her view, “the promotion of a lasting, structural solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis it would help expose Hamas’s bluff to the Palestinians as well and would contribute to her defeat.”

“Italy will support the creation of a European naval mission”

At the same time, referring to immigration, Meloni stated that will support the creation of a European Union naval mission to patrol maritime borders.

“Italy will support the creation of a European naval mission, in agreement and cooperation with the North African authorities,” the Italian prime minister said, adding that Italy also wants the EU to increase its funds to deal with mass irregular immigration in the its budget for the period 2021-2027.

“What is happening in the Middle East increases the risks associated with irregular migration. We must use a rational, practical type of approach and it is clear that we are concerned about the phenomenon of lone wolves, who are murdering people, in the streets of our countries, invoking God”, said the Italian Prime Minister, adding that in the past days the police her country’s forces identified and arrested fundamentalists who were preparing attacks.

She also emphasized that, “as much as some people didn’t want to admit it, we have to say that in some cases irregular immigration can be linked to terrorism” and for this reason “efforts must be made to stop both illegal immigration by sea and that which uses, by land, the Balkan route”.

“Exactly from the Balkan route, according to our intelligence services, there is the greatest risk of infiltration, and for this reason we decided to suspend the Schengen agreement and temporarily re-introduce border controls with Slovenia,” he explained. “In Europe now, thanks also to the efforts of our government, it is a common finding that the only solution is the defense of the external borders”Georgia Meloni concluded.