Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has signed a joint declaration with counterparts from the UK, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, collectively denouncing the Israeli Security Cabinet’s August 8th decision to launch another large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip, the Italian Foreign Ministry announced. Tajani and his fellow ministers reiterated the urgent necessity for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, essential for enabling adequate humanitarian aid delivery. The declaration further reaffirmed a shared vision “in favor of implementing a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to ensure Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.”
Meanwhile, an emergency UN Security Council meeting concerning Israel’s Gaza control plan has been postponed to Sunday at 10 AM New York time (4 PM Italian time), the UN confirmed. The meeting was initially scheduled for this afternoon (Italian evening), with the reason for the delay remaining unclear.
Separately, Al Jazeera reports at least 14 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since dawn today, including eight awaiting humanitarian aid. At least 11 fatalities were taken to al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza; six died while waiting for food distribution near the Netzarim corridor. Two more were killed and transported to Nasser hospital from a GHF Foundation aid distribution point in the south. Additionally, one woman was killed and another injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting an apartment building in Khan Younis (south).
In humanitarian efforts, the first Italian airlifted aid shipment for Gaza was airdropped into the Strip by an Italian Air Force C-130. Further airdrops will follow over the next week, delivering a total of one hundred tons of food supplies. These flights operate from Amman, Jordan, under the Italian Defense-participating mission “Solidarity Path 2”.