LONDON

The Italian prime minister on Monday expressed "deep concern" over the Israeli plans to occupy Gaza City, calling the ongoing situation "unjustifiable and unacceptable," according to an official statement.

Giorgia Meloni reiterated her opposition to any Israeli plans to occupy the Gaza Strip during a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, ANSA news agency reported, citing a government statement.

During the conversation, Meloni expressed deep concern over recent Israeli plans to occupy Gaza City and reiterated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "unjustifiable and unacceptable."

Abbas, for his part, praises Italy's role in providing humanitarian support to Palestinians in Gaza.

On Friday, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza City, drawing sharp international backlash from governments and human rights bodies.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its deadly war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,400 people since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.