Italian FM Backs Mediation Efforts for Gaza Ceasefire

Italian Foreign Minister (FM) Antonio Tajani, along with his counterparts from the UK, Germany, and France, has expressed support for ongoing mediation efforts led by Egypt, the United States, and Qatar to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of prisoners and detainees.

In a statement on Saturday, Tajani called for cooperation with all countries in the region to provide the Middle East with prospects for stability and peace, saying, "We cannot afford to waste time."

The foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy jointly issued a statement supporting the efforts of mediators to reach an agreement that would end the war in the Gaza Strip, including a potential exchange deal.

The statement urged all parties to continue engaging positively and flexibly in ceasefire negotiations and emphasized the importance of avoiding any escalation in the region that could undermine peace opportunities, noting that the stakes are extremely high.