ATHENS

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated Sunday that Israel’s right to self-defense should be in line with international law, local media reported.

“We have sided with Israel after the Hamas attacks, and we ask Israel to defend itself in line with international law, protecting the civilian population,” said Meloni, speaking on the final day of the annual Atreju political festival in Rome organized by her right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.

Referring to Italy’s policy on Russia’s war in Ukraine, she highlighted the government’s clear and strong support for Kyiv.

“Respect in foreign policy is obtained by keeping one's word. Italy has everything to lose in a world in which the force of law is replaced by the law of the strongest," she added.

Meloni also said that Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been motivated by its nostalgia for Soviet imperialism.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli attacks, mostly of them women and children, and 51,000 injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while more than 130 hostages are still being held by the Palestinian group in Gaza, according to official figures.