Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, reiterating that it was time for a cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave, Reuters reports.

Italy initially backed Israel’s actions following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas on its southern territories, but more recently it has softened its support in the light of the thousands of civilian deaths.

In an interview with daily La Stampa, Tajani stressed that the conflict in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas’s “barbaric” assault.

He then added: “however, now a ceasefire is necessary. Israel must stop the military operations that have massively affected the Palestinian population.”