Italy and the United Nations launch an initiative to coordinate better humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip (Reuters)

Rome -

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani announced that he asked the leaders of international humanitarian organizations to hold a meeting with the Italian government and launch the “Food for Gaza” initiative. He said in a press conference at the Farnesina Palace, “The goal of the initiative is to coordinate between these important organizations and their headquarters here in Rome is with our government, which chairs the G7, and as our country is part of the Quartet and a member of the European Union.”

The Minister spoke to the media and told them about the Italian initiative after his meeting with the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, the Executive Director of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, and Javier Castellanos, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The role of the facilitator

The Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that the goal of the meeting with leaders of international organizations is “to create an initiative that will allow us to do more in the face of the tragic humanitarian situation,” explaining, “We have decided to create a practical technical coordination table, open to all actors who wish to make their contribution at the local and international levels.” “We will put the best that the Italian system can offer at our disposal.”

Minister Tajani stated, “The main purpose of this initiative is to play the role of facilitator, reduce barriers in order to transfer the largest amount of aid to Gaza, and also communicate with all those concerned, that is, Israel and the Arab countries, especially those that have contact with the Hamas movement.”

Tajani stressed that his country is contributing about 20 million euros to this initiative, and that “Italy is ready for other investments for the sake of civilians,” adding that he is betting on his country’s presidency of the G7, in order to mediate and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

Tajani explained that “cooperation with other organizations affiliated with the United Nations as an alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) remains valid until its employees are no longer linked to terrorist acts, or Israel refuses to deal with it, and we will see if there is a change in the situation, but so far there is no In reference to this,” he added that the “Food for Gaza” initiative will be coordinated with the relevant organizations every week, and there will be a meeting at the leadership level every half month.

The Minister announced that the initiative has two goals, the first of which is in the short term, which is to increase food and health aid, and the second is to focus in the long term on efforts to rebuild the humanitarian and social sector of the sector, and this is based on the concept of partnership, which he clearly expressed by saying, “Italy wants to have a tangible role in supporting the population.” Palestinian civilians, but the only way to do this is to work together, not to go it alone.”

The meeting seeks to establish a permanent table, coordinated at the political level by the Minister, to address the subsequent reconstruction of the sector, with particular reference to land reform, starting with mine clearance and reclaiming agricultural lands, and providing basic health and food services to the population, as well as benefiting from the expertise and technological contributions of the chain system. Italian Food Supply and other partners who intend to join, including local authorities, Italian hospitals, universities and civil society organizations.

Organizations position

The Director of the FAO confirmed that the organization is “very interested,” and said, “We support this initiative along with other organizations that attended the big table, in which we announced the launch of the Food for Gaza Initiative. We must use all available means to help the civilians who are suffering in Gaza.” Especially with the announcement of the month of Ramadan.”

Donio added, "We must support Minister Tajani and this effort of this group of organizations, and we must thank the Italian contribution, while we are committed to a financial contribution of 7 million euros, and we must provide food and water, especially to children who are in great distress."

The World Food Program also confirmed, through its Executive Director, Sidney McCain, its involvement in the Italian initiative, who said, “The program is ready to support this initiative, and we are putting our capabilities in the field of humanitarian activities to develop a plan that contributes to strengthening the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and delivering food to people in need and suffering.” "From hunger."

McCain added, "We are concerned about the situation in Gaza, and we will do the best available to deliver food to the areas north of the Strip. We need the Rafah land crossing and the port to deliver 300 trucks every day."

She indicated that 8 flights packed with 170 tons of aid had been facilitated, from the two United Nations warehouses in Brindisi, expressing her pride in the support of the Italian government and the initiative, addressing the appeal to all, “Gentlemen, ladies, time is about to end, and the people there are on the brink of famine, and we must not We abandon them."

In turn, the Deputy Secretary-General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent said, "We will present a support plan to distribute food throughout Gaza. Together we must do the best we can for the sake of the civilians who are screaming because of hunger."

He added, "This crisis requires a collective response from us, so this initiative on food for Gaza is valuable, and will help confront the worsening dire situation in the Strip."

Castellanos continued, "Efforts and coordination must be redoubled through unconditional aid, so that people can obtain it, whether it is services, health, or food."

Echo of the initiative

The “Lunch for Gaza” initiative found a mixed response among civil activists and observers. Political analyst Yahya Al-Mutawat said, “This initiative would help save life in Gaza, and place Italy in the historical position that it has always played in order to establish peace,” as he believes. The initiative records a position taken into account by the Italian Foreign Ministry, “because the priority now is to save Palestinian lives from famine, in the face of the world’s deadly silence and contentment with playing the role of spectator,” he said.

Al-Mahdi Arabi, a researcher in political science at the University of Perugia, considered that “the main motives for the initiative emerged through internal pressure, through two unparalleled demonstrations in the cities of Rome and Milan, in order to stop the genocide in the Gaza Strip, in which thousands of Italian citizens and resident communities attended, Which led to enlightening internal public opinion and searching for fallacies about the Palestinian issue.”

The researcher considers that the second motive, which created widespread controversy and intense political debate between the left and the right, is represented by the incident of students at the University of Pisa, in which the security authorities intervened excessively in order to suppress a solidarity march with the Gaza Strip, in addition to the internal rift between the majority parties and the opposition left over... Decision to stop support for UNRWA.

Source: Al Jazeera