Meloni: Italy blocked arms sales to Israel over Gaza war

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that her country had blocked all new arms sales to Israel shortly after the war on Gaza began last October — despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Meloni defended Italy's arms sales to Israel, stating that the country's policy of blocking new licences was "much more restrictive" than France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the ANSA news agency reported.

"After the start of operations in Gaza, the government immediately suspended all new export licences and all agreements signed after 7 October were not implemented," Meloni told the Senate before this week's EU summit.

She said the foreign ministry was "analysing on a case-by-case basis" any licences authorised before 7 October.

"We have blocked everything [after 7 October]," Meloni added.

Despite Milan asserting the restrictions were in place, reports found that Italy had continued arms sales to Israel.

Altreconomia magazine revealed that Italy had sold $1.4 million worth of arms and ammunition to Israel in December 2023.

In response to the figures, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Dire news agency that contracts were blocked since Israel launched its assault on Gaza and "none of the products exported through contracts issued before October 7 could be used in Gaza".

The country, known to have a lenient foreign policy with Israel, formally recognised the state in 1949 and has an embassy in Tel Aviv.

However, after Isreal's attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, which Italy is the largest contributor to and is headed by Italian general Antonio Tajani, tensions have been rising between the two nations.

Italy's defence minister summoned the Israeli ambassador after UNIFIL was hit by Israeli tank fire, wounding two members.

In her speech to the Senate on Tuesday, Meloni condemned the attack, saying the "attitude of the Israeli forces is completely unjustified".

In a call to Israel's Netanyahu, the Italian Prime Minister said the attack is unacceptable and called for a "full implementation" of the UN's Security Council Resolution 1701 on Lebanon, stressing the need for de-escalation in the region.

Since the start of Israel's ground invasion of southern Lebanon, the Israeli army has attacked UNIFIL positions 20 times, according to the UN.