Italy's Prime Minister Meloni Faces Mounting Pressure Over Palestinian State Recognition

Italy PM Meloni Under Increasing Pressure Over Gaza

A recent survey indicates that approximately 87.8 percent of Italian citizens support the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Italy's position on the Gaza conflict is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain amid growing street demonstrations and numerous Western nations formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.

The primary opposition party has criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration for being "on the wrong side of history," as countries including Britain, Canada, and France have moved forward with recognizing Palestinian sovereignty.

For an extended period, Meloni has resisted changing Italy's stance, reluctant to diverge from US President Trump's position, claiming the timing wasn't appropriate.

This week, however, she indicated a policy shift, expressing support for Palestinian statehood conditional upon two requirements: the liberation of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the exclusion of the militant organization from Palestinian governance.

"Israel has no right to prevent the birth of a Palestinian state tomorrow," Meloni stated during her UN address Wednesday, where she also denounced Israeli military actions in Gaza as "disproportionate."

Italy's left-leaning Repubblica newspaper acknowledged Thursday that "in terms of political symbols, the Meloni government has ended its immobilism."

Nevertheless, the publication cautioned that Rome's position doesn't align with Paris but rather "is maintaining its own independent stance, similar to that of Washington and Berlin."

Public dissatisfaction regarding the government's perceived inaction has been intensifying.

On Monday, massive demonstrations took place across Italy, with tens of thousands participating, including high school and university students, to protest "the genocide in Gaza."

Community initiatives supporting Gaza have also multiplied throughout this Catholic nation, which maintains a strong pacifist tradition.

"We have to do something. It's been two years since anything has been done, and Meloni is still finding excuses not to recognize the Palestinian state," said Roberta Paolini, 53, during a Wednesday evening demonstration in Milan.

An Izi poll published Wednesday revealed that 87.8 percent of Italians favor Palestinian state recognition.

Notably, support remains substantial—73 percent—among voters aligned with the governing coalition parties.

"For a government that has always presented itself as representing a direct expression of popular sovereignty, these numbers count," stated the Stampa newspaper in a Wednesday editorial.

Further complicating matters for Meloni, approximately 60 Italian nationals—including four parliamentarians—are currently aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla attempting to breach the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian assistance to the famine-affected territory.

Despite the Prime Minister condemning these activists as "irresponsible," the Italian government dispatched a naval vessel Wednesday to provide support to the flotilla following alleged drone attacks.

Political analyst Maurizio Caprara lamented to AFP the superficiality of Italian political and public discourse, describing it as "subject to the logic of social media" and lacking "historical memory."

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict represents "an extremely complex problem, for which waving a flag will not be enough to achieve peace," he noted.

Meanwhile, judges and legal professionals throughout Italy have initiated an appeal for the "defense of international law and human rights" in Gaza, while a group called "Priests Against Genocide" organizes prayer vigils.

Pressure is mounting within government institutions as well, with approximately 300 foreign ministry officials reportedly sending a letter to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressing "deep unease" regarding Italy's stance on the conflict, according to Repubblica.

Opposition parties accuse the administration of deliberately stalling on the conflict, which was triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel.

"What are you waiting for? For there to be nothing and no-one left to recognize in Palestine?" PD leader Elly Schlein challenged during Thursday's parliamentary debate.