Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has declared that Italy will only extend formal recognition to Palestine if Hamas releases all Israeli hostages and relinquishes governing authority. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Meloni asserted that international pressure should focus on Hamas rather than Israel, emphasizing that the militant group initiated the conflict and continues to obstruct peace efforts by refusing to free the captives.
The announcement comes as several Western nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, Australia, and France, have already granted official recognition to Palestinian statehood.
