G7 ministers discuss ceasefire efforts in Mideast [Video]

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday he was “optimistic” for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, as Middle East tensions dominated a G7 meeting near Rome.

The Group of Seven foreign ministers also discussed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Hamas military chief.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the talks in the towns of Fiuggi and Anagni with ministers from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and host Italy.

“I am optimistic about Lebanon,” Tajani told a press conference as international efforts for a ceasefire intensify — even if it was “more complicated than Gaza”.

“We are strongly committed to strongly pushing Israel and Hamas to end this war in Palestine,” he said.

Tajani hinted however at difficulties in reaching “an unambiguous position on the International Criminal Court decision”.

The ICC issued warrants against Netanyahu and his former defence minister …