Sopuruchi Onwuka

The massive humanitarian situation and the rising sentiments against Israel’s mounting military campaign to recover what is left of its 250 citizens dragged into the terrorist enclave are widening the gaps between economic and military allies in America and Europe.

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Whereas the United Kingdom, France, Australia and Canada have joined in recognizing Palestine as part of the growing pressure on Israel to soften on Gaza war, the United States, Germany and Italy are not in a hurry to join the wave without resolving the terrorist attack that triggered the war.

Oracle Intelligence reports that Gaza war rapidly followed the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel by the Iran supported Hamas terrorist group which killed 1,200 Israeli citizens within hours, burnt houses and raped women in their homes before taking 250 survivors  into hostage in Gaza tunnels. Most of the hostages are reported dead in the hands of the group, angering Israel into widening its military campaigns in search of surviving ones.

The war against Hamas has drawn its affiliates in Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Iraq and Yemen into joint conflict with Israel, and also drawing the American naval armada closer to the Middle East in readiness to defend Israel from possible coordinated attacks from Arab neighbors.

Under intense pressure from Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Hamas has been using civilians in refugee camps, hospitals, schools and United Nations offices as shield; resulting in rising civilian casualties.

The group has also funded mass rallies and anti-Semitic media campaigns in the United States and Europe, stoking sentiments and instigating voters to mount pressure on governments across Europe to rise against Israel.

As the United Nations prepared for the General Assembly in the week, four of the countries from the NATO bloc broke with the United States on the path to credible peace in Israel, recognizing Palestine as State at the anger of the United States and Israel which vows press on with prevailing war until its goals are achieved.

Oracle Intelligence reports that the recognitions at this point of rising anger over discovery of more dead Israeli hostages in Gaza tunnels appears to aggravate the situation and paves no path to peace.

In joining Germany to break from other European countries recognizing Palestine, Italy’s right-wing government stated on Tuesday that it would recognize the state of Palestine along with resolution of the hostage impasse fueling the war in Gaza.

Premier Giorgia Meloni announced that the parties forming her government will present a motion calling for Palestine’s recognition in the Italian Parliament, subject to two conditions: release of the hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October 2023 attacks and exclusion of Hamas from any involvement in a future Palestinian government.

“I am not against recognizing Palestine, but we need to focus on the right priorities,” Meloni said.

Government’s declaration followed general strike on Monday across Italy involving around 500,000 people, in response to IDF operations in Gaza.

Meloni still refuses to label Israeli military action in Gaza as “genocide”, which the leftist parties generally do. But she has conceded on Palestine’s recognition, following several months in which she declined to do so.

Just one day before Meloni’s announcement, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said that “a Palestinian State does not exist now, and therefore it cannot be recognized.”

“Before recognizing it, a state should be built up. We cannot make a gift to Hamas,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

While Italy has always been in favour of the “two-state solution”, Meloni’s announcement represents a radical change, probably led by domestic public opinion on the topic.