ROME - With the violence in Gaza escalating at an alarming rate, much of the international community are stepping up efforts to fight for a ceasefire. Both the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, and Pope Francis have spoken to Middle Eastern leaders urging action for peace.

  On Monday Di Maio met with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. According to the Foreign Ministry, Di Maio “expressed deep concern about the escalation of attacks and violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, calling for an immediate end to all violence.” He called for an end to the Palestinian bombing of Israel, and urged that Israel’s response should be “proportionate”, said the ministry’s statement. Since the violence began last week, over 200 people have been injured in Gaza, and 1,500 Palestinians injured, while Israel have recorded 10 deaths.

  During the meeting, Di Maio also drew attention “to the human rights situation in Iran, recalling Italy's traditional position in support of human rights and a moratorium on capital punishment.”

  Iran have always been vocal about what they see as the Israeli “apartheid” government, while Iran’s opponents accuse them of funding the “terrorist” organisation Hamas. Dror Eydar, the Israeli Ambassador to Italy, wrote a no-holds-barred open letter to Zarif in response to his visit to Rome, condemning Iran’s involvement in the current conflict. 

  “While you are visiting wonderful Rome, I am in Israel with my young daughters, under fire from the terrorist attack which Hamas has unleashed on Israel, with your funding, your encouragement and your guidance.”

  He continued, “Your economy is collapsing, but you are investing the rest of your money into spreading terrorism and funding your nuclear missile programme. For who? From morning to evening you declare your desire to destroy Israel and the United States. All Judeo-Christian civilisation is threatened by your bloody regime.”

  He concluded, “the question is: when will the West realise that behind the elegant dresses, ties and smiles a killer ideology is hiding that is trying to erase all western civilisation? We need to wake up.”

  Later on Monday, Di Maio had a telephone conversation with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riad Malki, in which he “reiterated Italy's call for an immediate cessation of violence and the launch of de-escalation measures,” according to the ministry.

  Pope Francis, in his attempt to use the Holy See’s good relations with much of the Middle East to push for peace, also met with Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday. During the private audience at the Apostolic Palace they “exchanged views” on interfaith dialogue, Palestine and U.S. sanctions, according to Zarif’s Twitter.

  On Sunday the pope expressed hope that “Israelis and Palestinians may find the path of dialogue and forgiveness, to be patient builders of peace and justice, opening up, step by step, to a common hope, to a coexistence among brothers.”

  On Monday morning the pope also had a telephone conversation with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to Erdogan’s office, he told the pope “that Palestinians would continue to be subjected to massacre as long as the international community did not punish Israel - which is committing humanitarian crimes - with sanctions.” The pope urged Erdogan to help in the fight for peace in the area, though the Vatican did not reveal any other details of the pope’s meetings.

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