Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and two of her ministers, along with the CEO of defense firm Leonardo, have been reported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged complicity in genocide in Gaza. This marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict, with Meloni addressing the issue on Tuesday. The ICC, established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, has 123 member states, though major powers like the US, Russia, and Israel have not ratified the treaty. Meloni, who previously supported Israel in the conflict, now distances herself from the offensive, citing disproportionate violence, while refusing to sever ties with Israel or recognize Palestinian statehood.
The report to the ICC was reportedly made by her political opponents, with Meloni denying any complicity in genocide. She emphasized that no new arms shipments to Israel were authorized after October 7, 2023, when the conflict escalated. The Italian government, despite its past support for Israel, has recently expressed concerns about the disproportionate nature of the offensive, without cutting diplomatic or commercial ties.
Pro-Palestinian protests and a rise in anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in several countries since the start of Israel’s campaign, which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians over the past two years. The conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas that left around 1,200 Israelis dead and about 250 taken hostage. In September, a UN commission concluded that Israeli actions in Gaza amount to genocide, citing military operations and official statements from the period October 7, 2023, to July 31, 2025.