Amnesty International applauded on Wednesday the Italian government’s suspension its decades-long defense agreement with Israel, due to growing opposition to the Israeli military operations in the Middle East.
Italy’s decision marks a departure from the right-wing government’s traditional supportive relationship with Israel. Opposition parties and Italian civil society voices had pushed for the action, as a response to Israel’s controversial actions in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Amnesty International Italy spokesperson Riccardo Noury stated:
Israel continues to act in defiance of international law and human rights: the genocide in the Gaza Strip is ongoing, the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank proceeds alongside an unprecedented escalation of violence, and attacks and mass displacement in Lebanon continue. Any military cooperation between the Italian government and Israel risks making Italy complicit in violations of international humanitarian law and crimes under international law.
The defense agreement between Italy and Israel, which was set for a five-year renewal on April 13, fostered the exchange of equipment and technical data for collaboration between their respective defense departments. The agreement stood for just over two decades, with the nations having first ratified it in 2005.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on social media that the agreement was nothing more than an un-actualized understanding without substantive content, maintaining that Israeli security would remain unaffected by the suspension. Regardless, the action marks a potential shift by a country long considered an ally and key partner of Israel.
The decision to end the collaboration, put forth by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, comes amid global backlash surrounding Israel’s military tactics during its conflicts in the Middle East. Some Israel supporters, including US President Donald Trump, voiced staunch disapproval of the decision. Despite previous support of Meloni, Trump stated that she lacked courage, and expressed outrage at her unwillingness to get involved in the Iran conflict.
