Meloni Criticises Russia and Israel’s Actions in Address to UN

New york: Premier Giorgia Meloni sharply criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and condemned Israel’s disproportionate response to the October 7 Hamas attacks during her address to the United Nations General Assembly late on Wednesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, Meloni accused the Russian Federation, a permanent member of the Security Council, of deliberately trampling over Article 2 of the UN Charter by violating the integrity and political independence of Ukraine in its attempt to annex the territory. She emphasized that Russia remains unwilling to seriously engage in peace talks, which has resulted in destabilizing effects beyond the war’s borders.

Meloni also addressed the “ferocity and brutality” of the October 7 attacks by Hamas, acknowledging Israel’s right to react. However, she criticized Israel’s response as crossing the line of proportionality, violating humanitarian norms, and causing civilian casualties among Palestinians. Meloni stated that Italy finds this unacceptable and will support some European Commission sanctions against Israel while recognizing that Hamas initiated the conflict.

She urged that while Israel should not bear all the blame for the situation in Gaza, it must avoid falling into the trap of prolonged warfare, which she claims Hamas is using to exploit Palestinian suffering. Meloni called for an end to hostilities and the immediate release of hostages by Hamas.