Italian PM Giorgia Meloni faces ICC complaint over 'complicity' in Gaza genocide

A case has been filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of aiding Israel in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by supplying it with weapons.

According to international media reports, Prime Minister Meloni confirmed that the case was lodged on October 1 by nearly 50 lawyers, legal experts, and prominent public figures.

The complaint also names Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Leonardo Arms Company CEO Roberto Cingolani, accusing them of complicity in genocide.

The complainants allege that Italy provided lethal weapons to Israel, which have been used in the ongoing Gaza war, contributing to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The petition urges the ICC to formally investigate the allegations and take legal action against those responsible.

In a televised interview, PM Meloni said: “In my view, there is no precedent anywhere in the world for such a complaint.”

However, Defence Minister Crosetto defended Italy’s position, saying the arms deliveries to Israel were part of agreements signed before October 7, 2023, i.e., prior to the Gaza conflict.

He added that Italy had obtained assurances from Israel that the supplied weapons would not be used against civilians.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Tajani had claimed that Italy had suspended all arms exports to Israel.

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2020 and 2024, Italy was among the few countries that supplied significant quantities of military equipment to Israel, including helicopters and naval artillery.

Moreover, Italy is one of the countries involved in producing components for the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program.

This complaint comes at a time when the ICC has already issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, though genocide charges were not included.

Meanwhile, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa has filed a separate genocide case against Israel.

Nicaragua had also brought similar charges against Germany, though the ICJ declined to proceed with that case in April 2025.

The United States, Israel’s largest arms supplier, is not a member of the ICC and has strongly opposed the court’s actions. Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed sanctions on three Palestinian human rights groups involved in assisting the ICC’s investigations into Israeli officials.

In recent weeks, mass protests in Italy have erupted, with demonstrators holding posters depicting Prime Minister Meloni as a “partner in genocide.”