Italy, on Wednesday, demanded that Israel respect international law and protect civilians while exercising its right to self-defence, the country’s Premier said, Anadolu Agency reported.

“We affirm Israel’s right to defend itself against external aggression, such as the terrible attack of October. 7, 2023, but we also demand that Israel respect international law and protect civilians,” Giorgia Meloni said in an address at the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.

“By the same logic, we clearly support the right of the Palestinian people to have their own State,” Meloni said, adding: “But for this to emerge soon, Palestinians must entrust it to a leadership inspired by dialogue and the stability of the Middle East.”

Pointing to the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of the Israeli hostages, she said: “We can no longer witness the tragedies of recent days in southern and eastern Lebanon, involving defenceless civilians, including many children.”

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, last October.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the Territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel also faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

Israel has launched waves of deadly air strikes in Lebanon since Monday morning, killing nearly 570 people and injuring over 1,800 others, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on 7 October.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the spectre of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.