President Sergio Mattarella reiterated on Wednesday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable and repeated his call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
"It is obvious to say that the situation in Gaza is becoming, day by day, dramatically more serious and intolerable," Mattarella said at the traditional fan ceremony at the Quirinal Palace before parliament's summer recess.
"We hope that the announced pauses (in the fighting) will be matched by spaces of effective ceasefire." The head of State said the series of Israeli strikes that have caused heavy civilian casualties could no longer be seen as unintended.
"Mistakes were also spoken of after having fired on ambulances and killed doctors and nurses bringing aid to the wounded, targeting and killing thirsty children in line to get water, killing so many hungry people in line to get food, destroying hospitals, even killing children hospitalized for malnutrition.
"It is difficult to see an unintentional repetition of mistakes in such a chain and not recognize obstinacy to kill indiscriminately.
