The BRICS TimesFor months, Meloni — reluctant to defy US President Donald Trump — insisted it was not yet time to act.
As protests sweep across Italy and more Western countries formally recognize Palestine, Rome struggles to hold its cautious approach to Gaza.
Opposition parties criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing administration this week, calling it “on the wrong side of history,” as Britain, Canada, and France recognized Palestinian statehood.
For months, Meloni, careful not to oppose US President Donald Trump, has insisted the timing was not appropriate.
This week, she hinted at a possible change, supporting Palestinian statehood under two conditions: Israel must regain hostages held by Hamas, and the militant group must remain excluded from governance.
“Israel has no right to prevent the birth of a Palestinian state tomorrow,” she declared at the UN on Wednesday, condemning Israeli strikes on Gaza as “disproportionate.”
Italy’s left-leaning Repubblica newspaper noted Thursday that, “in terms of political symbols, the Meloni government has ended its immobilism.”
Yet, it added, Rome still does not fully align with Paris, instead maintaining an independent position similar to Washington and Berlin.
Popular pressure
Public frustration over Meloni’s cautious stance continues to grow.
On Monday, tens of thousands of citizens, including students, marched in cities across Italy to protest “the genocide in Gaza.”
Grassroots initiatives supporting Gaza are also rising in the Catholic nation, which has a deep pacifist tradition.
“We have to do something. It’s been two years without action, and Meloni still finds excuses not to recognize Palestine,” said Roberta Paolini, 53, during a Milan demonstration Wednesday evening.
A recent Izi poll shows 87.8 percent of Italians favor recognizing a Palestinian state. Even among voters supporting the governing coalition, 73 percent back recognition.
“For a government claiming to represent the voice of the people, these numbers cannot be ignored,” wrote Stampa in a Wednesday editorial.
Adding to Meloni’s challenges, around 60 Italians, including four MPs, joined a flotilla heading to Gaza to deliver aid and challenge Israel’s blockade.
Although the Prime Minister labeled the activists “irresponsible,” Italy sent a naval vessel Wednesday after reported drone attacks threatened the flotilla.
‘Extremely complex’
Political analyst Maurizio Caprara told AFP that Italy’s public and political debates lack depth and historical context, often driven by social media trends.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “an extremely complex problem, for which waving a flag will not be enough to achieve peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, judges, lawyers, and groups like “Priests Against Genocide” launched campaigns defending international law and human rights, organizing prayer vigils for Gaza.
Pressure is also mounting within government offices, as roughly 300 foreign ministry employees sent a letter to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, expressing “deep unease” about Italy’s position, according to Repubblica.
Opposition leaders accuse the government of deliberately delaying action following Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel.
“What are you waiting for? For there to be nothing left to recognize in Palestine?” PD leader Elly Schlein asked during a Thursday parliamentary debate.
