Portrait of Giorgia Meloni
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Giorgia Meloni on Gaza Conflict Stance

Pro-Israel until arms embargo (strong) Position evolved

Giorgia Meloni's stance on the Gaza conflict has been characterized by a strong initial declaration of solidarity with Israel following the attacks that triggered the war. She affirmed Israel's full right to defend itself while insisting this defense must comply with international law.

Despite this initial alignment, her government's position showed signs of evolving or being tempered by domestic and international pressures, leading to a significant shift later in the crisis. This evolution culminated in a reversal of her earlier pro-Israel stance, marked by the imposition of a full arms embargo on Israel.

Meloni also expressed opposition to the Rafah offensive during the ongoing war and voiced support for a two-state solution, indicating a move toward a more nuanced or balanced diplomatic position compared to her initial reactions. Her government has also refused to recognize the State of Palestine as long as Hamas remains in power in Gaza.

Timeline

  1. Meloni condemned the civilian casualties during the 2014 Gaza War between Israel and Hamas.
  2. She previously held a view suggesting Iran and Hezbollah protected Syrian Christians.
  3. During her official trip to the US, Meloni stated her support for Israel's right to self-defense.
  4. Following the start of the 2023 conflict, Meloni maintained a pro-Israel position and opposed moving the Italian embassy to Jerusalem.
  5. She expressed opposition to the Rafah offensive during the ongoing Gaza war.
  6. Meloni condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL bases in Lebanon, assuring Lebanese leaders of Italy's solidarity.
  7. Meloni's government took a firm pro-Israel line, ruling out recognition of Palestine while Hamas was in power, and faced domestic protests over her Gaza war policies.

Actions Taken

  1. Diplomatic Statement
    Stated support for Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
  2. Diplomatic Stance
    Opposed moving the Italian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
  3. Diplomatic Stance
    Expressed opposition to the Rafah offensive during the ongoing Gaza war.
  4. Diplomatic Action
    Condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL bases in Lebanon, assuring solidarity with the country.
  5. Policy Change
    Reversed prior stance and imposed a full arms embargo on Israel.

Related Positions

  • Two-State Solution Meloni is explicitly supportive of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • Recognition of Palestine Her government rules out recognizing the State of Palestine as long as Hamas remains in power in Gaza.
  • Arms Trade Policy The imposition of a full arms embargo on Israel represents a concrete policy action related to the conflict.

Criticism

Opposition parties in Italy

Accused the government of isolating Italy diplomatically due to its firm pro-Israel stance during the crisis, following the 2025 UN General Assembly.

Comparison

Meloni's stance notably differed from several other European countries that endorsed the recognition of the State of Palestine during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2025, as Italy under her leadership maintained its refusal.

Sources4

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.