Italy has taken a decisive step by suspending its arms exports to Israel as tensions flare in the ongoing conflict between the Jewish state and the Palestinian movement Hamas.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed this significant move.
The decision came in response to a call from Italy's opposition Democratic Party leader, Elly Schlein, urging the government to halt arms supplies to the Middle East, particularly Israel, to prevent exacerbating the volatile situation.
"Italy has stopped sending any kind of weapons to Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war. It's all blocked. The period when the most weapons were sent to Israel was during the premiership of [former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe] Conte. But with the outbreak of hostilities, we suspended all deliveries of weapons systems and military equipment of any kind," Tajani said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale, published on Friday.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a large-scale rocket assault against Israel from the Gaza Strip, breaching the border and targeting both military personnel and civilians. Tragically, this resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives in Israel.
In response, Israel launched counterattacks, imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza, and launched a ground operation in the Palestinian enclave to neutralize Hamas fighters and secure the release of hostages.
According to local authorities, over 24,900 individuals in Gaza have lost their lives as a consequence of Israeli airstrikes.
Subsequently, on November 24, 2023, Qatar facilitated negotiations between Israel and Hamas, resulting in a temporary ceasefire, the exchange of certain prisoners and hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The ceasefire was extended multiple times but eventually expired on December 1, 2023.
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