Italy, UAE aim to jointly address political and humanitarian crises in Middle East

Italy and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aim to jointly resolve political and humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday.

Tajani, in a statement following his meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rome, said they discussed further strengthening the bilateral partnership.

Mentioning the situation in the Middle East, he said: "Italy and the UAE aim to jointly resolve political and humanitarian crises in the region. Rome and Abu Dhabi are at the forefront of humanitarian intervention in Gaza to address the urgent needs of civilians."

He emphasized the urgent need for a humanitarian cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave and reiterated the importance of a two-state solution.

Tajani also addressed navigation security in the Red Sea where Yemen's Houthis have attacked Israeli-linked ships since November, saying: "We closely monitor developments in the Red Sea with the UAE. Ensuring navigation security is in everyone's interest."

The foreign minister also mentioned discussing Italy's priorities during its G7 Presidency with his UAE counterpart.

Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Palestinian group Hamas in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed.

More than 32,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, besides causing mass destruction, displacement and conditions of famine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

In a Thursday order indicating additional provisional measures, the ICJ called on Israel to take measures “without delay” to ensure the "unhindered provision" of basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The world court said, “Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine ... but that famine is setting in.”