The Italian defense minister said that the Israeli government had "lost its mind and its humanity" with regard to Gaza and signaled readiness for possible sanctions.

"What is happening is unacceptable. We are not facing a military operation with collateral damage, but a pure denial of the law and the fundamental values of our civilization," Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told La Stampa newspaper.

"We are committed to humanitarian aid, but now we must find a way to force Netanyahu to think clearly, beyond empty words," he added, quoted by AFP.

Asked about possible international sanctions against Israel, Crosetto replied that "the occupation of Gaza and some serious actions in the West Bank mark a qualitative leap that requires decisions to be taken to force Netanyahu to think."

"And this would not be a move against Israel, but a way to save this people from a government that has lost its mind and its humanity. We must always distinguish between governments and states and peoples, as well as the religions they profess. This applies to Netanyahu and it applies to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, whose methods have become dangerously similar," the Italian minister continued.

He spoke after Netanyahu defended his plan to take control of Gaza, a plan that has drawn criticism from around the world.

Italy refused to join other countries that said they would recognize a Palestinian state, a decision that Crocetto defended, saying that "recognizing a state that does not exist risks becoming nothing more than a political provocation in a world dying of provocations." I BGNES