Italian foreign ministry mourns loss of journalist in Gaza

An Italian photojournalist was killed, along with six Palestinians, by an Israeli dropped missile that was being neutralized as he was reporting on the conflict in Gaza, Italy's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
Simone Camilli, 35, who was working for international US-based news agency The Associated Press (AP), was reporting on the diffusing operation of an unexploded missile dropped by an Israeli airstrike that was being carried out by Palestinian police in Beit Lahia.
"Once again, it's a journalist who pays the price in a war that has lasted for too many years," said Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.
Camilli's death underscores "how urgent it is to finally arrive at a solution to the conflict in the Middle East," she added.
"To the family and friends of Simone, I want to express, on behalf of myself and all the government, our condolences for this loss which is very painful," said Mogherini.
Camilli is the first Western journalist to have been killed in the conflict which started on July 7.
To date, the conflict has killed around 2,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of children and several Palestinian journalists.