Amman, Oct. 22 (Petra) - The Senate’s Palestine Committee and Italian Ambassador to Jordan Pier Luigi Zamporlini met on Thursday to review developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and international efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace.

During the meeting, Committee Chairman Mazen Darwazeh pointed the "longstanding" ties between Jordan and Italy, established in 1950, and their continued development across political, economic, trade, cultural and tourism sectors.

He also cited cooperation in higher education, scientific research and cultural exchange, as well as the 2011 twinning agreement between Petra in Jordan and the Italian city of Matera.

He said His Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to Rome in October 2025 and his meetings with Italian leaders reflected the commitment to continue coordination and consultation on regional and international issues.

On the Palestinian front, Darwazeh hailed Italy’s support for a two-state solution, its humanitarian aid for Gaza, and its stance against forced displacement and settlement expansion.

He also welcomed Rome's move to suspend its defense agreement with Israel and back EU sanctions against illegal Israeli settlers.

He also noted the calls for European trade restrictions on settlement products, urging Italy to use its influence within the European Union, the E4 group and international forums to translate these positions into practical measures that help end the occupation and protect the rights of Palestinians.

Darwazeh referred to the King’s address to the UN General Assembly, which mentioned the international community’s responsibility to address violations against Palestinians. He stressed that developments in the occupied West Bank cannot be separated from the situation in Gaza, warning that rising settler attacks, land seizures and settlement expansion threaten prospects for an independent Palestinian state.

He cited an attack on olive harvesters in Taybeh, east of Ramallah, which also targeted a European delegation comprising French, Polish, and Belgian diplomats, journalists, church representatives, and Italian observers.

Darwazeh stated Jordan’s denounciation of the attacks, the destruction of olive groves, and the intimidation of civilians and diplomats. He called for a "firm" international response to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.

Turning to Gaza, he noted the continuing humanitarian catastrophe, including severe shortages of food, water, medicine and health care. He expressed particular concern for children who have lost their parents and providers, as well as attacks on journalists and efforts to obstruct the reporting of events.

He stressed the need to protect journalists, civilians and humanitarian workers, ensure adequate and sustained delivery of humanitarian and medical aid throughout Gaza, and continue international efforts to end the war and create conditions for recovery and reconstruction.

Darwazeh also noted the central role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in delivering humanitarian assistance and safeguarding Palestinians’ fundamental rights, particularly access to education and health care.

On Jerusalem, he said protecting the city’s Islamic and Christian holy sites was a historic, religious and political responsibility. He underscored the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship, held by King Abdullah II, in protecting the sites, preserving their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity, and maintaining their historic and legal status quo.

He welcomed Italy’s support for the Hashemite Custodianship and its calls to protect freedom of worship and reject unilateral measures seeking to change Jerusalem’s identity or threaten its holy sites.

Darwazeh voiced Jordan’s position that a "just and lasting" peace requires ending the occupation and establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Zamporlini, for his part, pointed to the historic friendship between Jordan and Italy, describing their relationship as "one based on mutual respect, cooperation and partnerships across multiple sectors." He said Jordan, under King Abdullah’s leadership, represented a "model of moderation and dialogue and played a key role in promoting stability in the Middle East." He also mentioned that Italy shared Jordan’s position on establishing an independent Palestinian state through a two-state solution.

The ambassador noted Italian assistance to Jordan and his country’s humanitarian efforts to support Gaza, including aid delivered through the Royal Initiative for relief airdrops.

He described the King’s address to the UN General Assembly as "highly significant," praising its strength, clarity and coherence.

He called for implementing the peace plan and progress toward Gaza’s reconstruction, stressing that the situation in Gaza and the seizure of Palestinian land "could not be tolerated." Zamporlini also lauded the King’s role in protecting Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, saying the Hashemite Custodianship reflected the values of dialogue and openness and that Jordan offered a living example of religious coexistence.

He further welcomed the Jordanian government’s preparations for the 2030 anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ at the Baptism Site in Bethany Beyond the Jordan, saying greater understanding and shared positions would reinforce Jordan’s role as a model of peace and dialogue.

Concluding the meeting, committee members highlighted importance of bolstering Jordanian-Italian relations and coordination in support of international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.

//Petra// HA