In a week marked by high-stakes diplomacy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas concluded a significant visit to Rome, where he met with key Italian leaders and Vatican officials to discuss the future of the Middle East, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and the prospects for Palestinian statehood. The meetings, held on November 6 and 7, 2025, came at a pivotal moment—nearly a month after a hard-won truce took hold in Gaza and as European Union momentum for recognizing a Palestinian state continues to build.
According to Nova News, Abbas’s itinerary included a solemn stop at the tomb of Pope Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore and an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The encounter with the Pope coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, a milestone that underscored the Vatican’s ongoing engagement with the Palestinian cause. During their meeting, Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to “working jointly with the Vatican to strengthen the Christian presence in Palestine,” describing it as “an authentic presence deeply rooted among the Palestinian people for thousands of years.”
The diplomatic focus quickly shifted to the Italian political arena, where Abbas was received by President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace. The two leaders engaged in extensive talks about bilateral relations, humanitarian support, and the path forward for Gaza’s reconstruction. Mattarella, emphasizing Italy’s historic friendship with Palestine, stated, “Violence distances peace and security for all, including Israel,” and stressed the urgent need to “eliminate all obstacles to the two-state, two-people solution.” He called for concrete steps on humanitarian aid and the rebuilding of Gaza, as well as strong involvement from Arab countries and the disarmament of Hamas. “We must act quickly to prevent those who do not want peace, on both sides, from reorganizing. It is essential to support the Sharm el-Sheikh peace plan, maintaining respect for the ceasefire on both sides,” Mattarella said, according to Nova News.
Abbas, for his part, expressed deep appreciation for Italy’s ongoing humanitarian support, which includes the reception of wounded Palestinian children, police training, and Italian participation in the European monitoring force at the Rafah crossing. He reiterated his administration’s “full commitment to all the reforms to which the State of Palestine has committed” in order to “strengthen the democratic and disarmed Palestinian state, hold elections within a year of the end of the war, enact a provisional constitution and a law on political parties and elections, promote a culture of peace, and hand over the weapons of all armed factions to the Palestinian state, including Hamas.”
Abbas was unequivocal about the future of Hamas in Palestinian governance, declaring, “The Islamist group will have no role in the governance of the Gaza Strip, so that the principle of the one state, the one law, and the only legitimate weapons will prevail.” He added, “We are against war, hatred, and terrorism. We want to live in our own state alongside Israel, which we recognized in 1988 and 1993, with the Oslo Accords, as a state and as a territory. Now Israel must also recognize our state and our territory.” He further stated, “Once we have achieved peace, we will talk to all Arab countries so that they recognize the State of Israel.”
The diplomatic marathon continued in the afternoon as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed Abbas at Palazzo Chigi. The meeting, as reported by both Nova News and Al-Monitor, focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing a series of humanitarian initiatives, such as the Food for Gaza program, medical evacuations, and the so-called “university corridor.” Meloni underscored Italy’s “strong and ongoing commitment to humanitarian assistance to the civilian population” and to Palestinian police training and institutional reforms.
Meloni was firm on the need to “consolidate the ceasefire and initiate the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza,” aligning with the full implementation of the US President’s Peace Plan, which includes the disarmament of Hamas. She reiterated Italy’s support for “a lasting political solution based on the two-state vision” and confirmed that the Italian government is preparing a humanitarian and reconstruction aid package, to be presented at the upcoming Conference on Gaza convened by Egypt.
Abbas used the opportunity to press Italy to officially recognize the State of Palestine, arguing that such a move would “preserve the two-state solution, systematically undermined by Israeli policies, achieve peace based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and ensure Palestinian independence along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in security and peace alongside Israel.” He also called on Italy to “continue playing a key role in strengthening security, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and coordinating with all relevant parties to achieve a lasting peace.”
The Palestinian president briefed Meloni on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, including efforts to “maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, provide humanitarian aid to the Strip, release hostages and detainees, complete the Israeli withdrawal, allow the State of Palestine to assume its responsibilities there, and begin reconstruction,” while stressing the importance of “preventing displacement and annexation.” He also highlighted the escalation of violence in the West Bank, the expansion of Israeli settlements, settler attacks on Palestinian civilians, the uprooting of olive trees, and attacks on Christian and Islamic holy sites. Abbas did not shy away from addressing the “serious economic and financial challenges facing the State of Palestine.”
This week’s meetings took place against the backdrop of a broader European push for Palestinian statehood recognition, as noted by Al-Monitor. The timing—just weeks after the Gaza truce—lent a sense of urgency to the discussions. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza still dire, both sides agreed on the necessity of immediate aid, reconstruction, and the political reforms needed to lay the groundwork for peace.
Italy’s role as an “absolutely fundamental interlocutor,” as described by Mattarella, seems only set to grow. The country’s commitment to humanitarian assistance, police training, and diplomatic engagement positions it as a key player in the evolving Middle Eastern landscape. Meanwhile, Abbas’s calls for reform, elections, and a unified Palestinian state—free from the influence of armed factions—signal a renewed effort to present the Palestinian Authority as a credible partner for peace.
While the challenges ahead are formidable, the week’s events in Rome offered a glimpse of cautious optimism. With international actors like Italy and the Vatican stepping up their engagement, and with Abbas reiterating a vision of coexistence and reform, the question now is whether these diplomatic overtures can translate into tangible progress on the ground for Palestinians and Israelis alike.