Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis stance on Gaza sparks controversy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has taken a series of actions that have raised questions about its foreign policy priorities. In 2014, during the Israeli assault on Gaza, Meloni expressed outrage over the killing of Palestinian children, stating “No cause is fair when it sheds the blood of the innocent.” However, as prime minister, her remarks on Gaza have become more cautious and equivocal.

In March, Meloni addressed the war against Iran, declaring that she neither condemned nor condoned the conflict. This statement was met with confusion among many observers. Recently, Italy announced that it would suspend the automatic renewal of its defense pact with Israel, which some saw as a sign that Meloni’s government was finally taking a moral stance on the issue.

However, the decision to suspend the pact was prompted by Israeli forces firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon. This incident occurred after two UNIFIL bases staffed by Italian personnel were struck by the Israeli army in 2024. The sequence of events suggests that Meloni’s government only acted in response to a direct affront to Italian personnel, rather than a humanitarian catastrophe.

This pattern is consistent with Meloni’s foreign policy approach, which appears to prioritize political calculation over principle. For example, she has not criticized US President Donald Trump for his conduct in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, and Lebanon, despite his inflammatory comments about the Pope. Instead, she has taken a more measured tone when confronted by conservative Catholic voters who form the backbone of her base.

Italy’s participation in the US-led “Board of Peace” has also raised eyebrows among commentators. The country remains the only Western European and G7 nation to participate as an observer, despite criticism from many Italian commentators. A European civil petition calling for the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel gathered over one million signatures, but Italy’s government has not taken concrete action in response.

In recent weeks, Meloni’s government has made symbolic gestures, such as suspending the defense pact and condemning Israel for seizing vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla. However, these actions have been largely overshadowed by more significant decisions, such as joining Germany in blocking the EU’s attempt to suspend trade with Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera