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Italian opposition parties, including the Five Star Movement, the Democratic Party, and the Green and Left Alliance, are urging the Italian government to join countries including Norway, Spain, and Ireland in formally acknowledging Palestine as a state.

Members of Parliament waved Palestinian and peace flags as the Five Star Movement's deputy leader, Riccardo Ricciardi, spoke on Tuesday, following a motion the day before that had called on the Italian government to recognize the state of Palestine, reported the Euractiv news website.

Spain, Ireland, and Norway have all recently recognized Palestine as a state in a coordinated effort to bring pressure on Israel to agree a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and to refocus attention on finding a political solution.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza was triggered by a brutal cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Israel on Oct 7, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage.

At least 36,170 people have been killed across Gaza since the start of the conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

"We have submitted a motion for the recognition of the state of Palestine, and we demand that the government and the prime minister take responsibility for this," Ricciardi told Parliament.

The Democratic Party and the Green-Left Alliance echoed the call for Italy to acknowledge Palestine, reported Euractiv.

"We have seen Spain and Norway proceed with recognition; it is time for Italy to do the same," said Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein. "The problem is that the international community has never fully recognized a Palestinian state. Palestinians also have the right to live in peace and security in their own state."

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani opposed the motion, saying it would not benefit Palestine and was being used as a political tactic by the opposition.

"Recognizing the state of Palestine at this time, as Spain has done, does not help ensure stability in the region and cannot be used as an electoral propaganda tool," said Tajani. "The Palestinian state must first be recognized by Israel and, in turn, must recognize Israel."

While 145 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognized Palestine, none of the Group of Seven industrial powers, including France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has done so.

Spain, Norway, and Ireland were the first major Western powers to take the step. The decision, however, provoked an angry reaction from Israel's government, which accused all three of rewarding terrorism.