Israel's rightwing foreign minister Gideon Saar on Friday lauded transport minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the co-ruling anti-immigrant League party as "one of Israel's greatest friends in Italy and Europe," and said he hoped to further cement strong bilateral ties.
“It is always good to meet with Italian deputy premier and infrastructure and transport minister Matteo Salvini, one of Israel's greatest friends in Italy and Europe," Saar wrote on X during a visit to Italy.
At a ceremony in Rome in July attended by Israel's ambassador Jonathan Peled, Salvini was awarded the Italy-Israel Prize for his "committed support" to the Jewish state and for nurturing and sustaining bilateral relations.
"I said that Israel is committed to (US president Donald) Trump's (peace) plan, but Hamas is violating the agreement by holding 19 of our dead hostages," Saar's post continued.
"I hope for a further strengthening of the close ties between Israel and Italy, he wrote, noting he had asked Salvini to help re-start direct flights to Israel by airline ITA.
Only nine of the 28 dead Israeli hostages have been returned, with Hamas saying it needs time and specialised equipment to recover the others from the ruins of Gaza.
