Italy says Turkey has "crucial role" in avoiding spread of Israel-Hamas war

Italy on Wednesday said Turkey had a crucial role in efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spreading to the rest of the region, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict.

"The prime minister called for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict, which must not spread to the rest of the region, and emphasised the crucial role Turkey plays in this context," a statement from Meloni's office said, following her call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.