Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Friday pushed for Italy to recognise Palestinian statehood during a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The meeting took place nearly one month after a US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza. Clashes have continued, albeit less intense than in the past two years, leading to the death of 241 Gazans and two Israeli soldiers.
Mr Abbas, who leads the Palestinian Authority based mainly in the occupied West Bank, "renewed Palestine’s request for Italy to recognise the State of Palestine to protect the two-state solution," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
He reaffirmed his "full commitment to all reforms undertaken by the State of Palestine to build a non-armed democratic Palestinian state," according to Wafa. He also pledged to "holding elections within one year after the end of the war" and to "collect all weapons from armed factions, including Hamas, which will have no role in governing the Gaza Strip."
Italy has set the exclusion of Hamas from Gaza's governance, and the return to Israel of all the hostages held in the enclave, as conditions for its recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Mr Abbas met Italian President Sergio Mattarella earlier in the day.
The Palestinian leader arrived in Rome on Wednesday for a three-day visit. His first stop was at the Basilica of St Mary Major to pay his respects at the tomb of Pope Francis. Over the years, Mr Abbas had met Pope Francis several times, maintaining frequent phone contact after Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s strikes on Gaza.
Mr Abbas held his first meeting with Francis's successor, Pope Leo XIV, on Thursday to discuss the conflict.
“During the cordial talks, it was recognised that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-state solution,” the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, said.
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomes Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas before their meeting in Rome. EPA -
Mr Abbas with Ms Meloni at Palazzo Chigi in Rome. AP Photo -
Italian President Sergio Mattarella welcomes Mr Abbas before their meeting at his official residence, the Quirinale Palace, in Rome. EPA -
Mr Abbas during the meeting with Mr Mattarella. EPA -
Pope Leo XIV meets Mr Abbas at the Vatican. Reuters -
Pope Leo and Mr Abbas during their meeting. Reuters -
Mr Abbas leaves the Vatican. AFP -
Swiss Guards taking position before Mr Abbas's arrival in San Damaso courtyard in the Vatican. AFP -
Mr Abbas leaves the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome after visiting the tomb of Pope Francis. Reuters -
Mr Abbas arrives at Ciampino military airport in Rome. EPA
Mr Abbas visited the Vatican to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
Fresh impetus
Palestinian diplomats say that western pressure on Israel, including recognition of Palestinian statehood, which is rejected by Tel Aviv, is important for long-term peace.
Speaking to The National in October, Palestine's envoy to Italy, Mona Abuamara, said she hoped Italy would move closer to recognising a Palestinian state during Mr Abbas's visit.
“The Italian government, hopefully, will surprise us,” Ms Abuamara said last. Analysts have cautioned that Italy is likely to move slowly.
Mr Abbas had been set to meet Ms Meloni in September in New York during a conference on a two-state solution, during which 10 states recognised Palestine, but his visa was denied by the US.
All living hostages have been returned to Israel, but the focus now is on the remains of those who died in Gaza. Six still remain in the enclave after the body of a Tanzanian hostage was returned on Thursday. For each body returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians.
The process has been difficult and slow, with both sides accusing each other of delay tactics. This has stalled progress towards the second part of the US-brokered ceasefire plan, which aims to set up new governance structures for Gaza.
