Rome, June 23, 2025, 7:56 PM IST – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, addressing the Italian Chamber of Deputies on June 23, 2025, described Israel’s military response in Gaza as “dramatic and unacceptable,” calling for an immediate ceasefire amid the escalating Middle East crisis. Speaking on the humanitarian catastrophe, with over 52,000 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza authorities, Meloni emphasized the need for de-escalation and compliance with international law.
Meloni, once a staunch ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has shifted Italy’s stance due to the worsening Gaza situation. She reiterated support for a two-state solution and highlighted Italy’s humanitarian efforts, including €35 million in aid for Palestinians via UNRWA and the “Food for Gaza” initiative. Her remarks align with her May 2025 statement urging Israel to respect international law, calling the enclave’s conditions “unjustifiable.”
The statement follows Meloni’s earlier critique at the 2024 G7 summit, where she suggested Israel had fallen into a “Hamas trap” isolating it globally, a comment that drew mixed reactions. While condemning Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, she stressed the disproportionate impact of Israel’s offensive.
On X, sentiments vary, with some praising Meloni’s call for justice, while others view it as political posturing. Her government faces domestic pressure to balance ties with Israel and address pro-Palestinian sentiments, especially after halting arms shipments to Israel in January 2024.
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