“It worries us very much” –

From a possible truce to a new increase in the level of conflict in the Middle East. The decision to launch an Israeli military offensive on Rafah “worries us greatly, for months we have also been trying in that area to find a way to de-escalation and a truce”, said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in response to a question on the sidelines of the meeting of the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. “This will certainly not improve the situation in the area”, explains the representative of Giorgia Meloni’s government. “We have tried to explain our point of view to Israel, a sovereign country, we hope that any type of consequences on the civilian population will be averted”, she concluded.

Israel and Hamas were close to reaching an agreement on the truce in Gaza and the release of hostages but the Israeli army’s decision to start the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from East Rafah will lead to the suspension of the talks. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported this, citing a source from the Palestinian militant group. The Israeli journalist also relaunched the news reported by an Egyptian source to the Saudi website Al Hadath according to which the Hamas attack once morest the Kerem Shalom crossing, which cost the lives of several Israeli soldiers yesterday, sabotaged the negotiations.