Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Faces ICC Complaint Over Alleged Complicity in Israel’s Gaza Offensive
A major legal complaint filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) has accused Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and several senior officials of complicity in genocide, over Italy’s continued military support for Israel amid its ongoing war in Gaza. The case, signed by dozens of Italian academics, lawyers, and public figures, highlights growing international scrutiny of nations accused of enabling Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
Meloni Confirms ICC Complaint During TV Interview
During an interview with Italy’s state broadcaster RAI, Meloni acknowledged that she, along with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, had been “denounced” in a formal submission to the ICC. She added that Roberto Cingolani, the CEO of the defence and aerospace company Leonardo, may also be named in the complaint.
The ICC has not yet confirmed receipt of the complaint, but Meloni expressed disbelief, saying, “I don’t think there is another case in the world or in the history of a complaint of this kind.”
The 50 co-signatories of the complaint accuse Italy of becoming complicit in “ongoing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” by continuing to supply lethal weapons and military technology to Israel despite mounting civilian casualties in Gaza.
The Basis of the ICC Complaint
According to the filing, Italy’s actions directly support Israel’s military campaign, which a United Nations Independent Inquiry recently described as genocidal. The complaint calls on the ICC to launch a formal investigation into whether Italian officials knowingly aided a campaign that has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths, widespread destruction, and the displacement of most of Gaza’s population.
The Palestinian advocacy group behind the filing emphasized that the Italian government’s role in exporting arms to Israel must be examined as a potential violation of international law, particularly under the Rome Statute, which defines aiding or abetting genocide as a crime.
Italy’s Role in Supplying Arms to Israel
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals that Italy is among just three nations—alongside the United States and Germany—to export “major conventional weapons” to Israel between 2020 and 2024.
While U.S. and German exports account for nearly 99 percent of Israel’s large-scale weaponry such as fighter jets, missiles, and tanks, Italy’s contributions include light helicopters, naval guns, and crucial components for F-35 fighter jets, produced under a U.S.-led joint defense program.
SIPRI warned in a recent report that the F-35s supplied to Israel have been repeatedly used in airstrikes on civilian areas, raising serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.
Italian Officials Defend Arms Deliveries
Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto defended Rome’s position, insisting that current arms transfers are limited to contracts signed prior to October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel.
He added that Italy has sought assurances from Israel that no Italian-made weapons will be used against civilians in Gaza. This contrasts with an earlier claim by Deputy Prime Minister Tajani, who stated Italy had suspended all arms exports to Israel.
However, critics argue that even maintaining older contracts makes Italy legally and morally complicit, given the scale of Israel’s offensive and international legal findings labelling it as a genocide.
Widespread Protests Across Italy
The ICC complaint comes amid nationwide demonstrations against Italy’s continued support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Over the past weeks, hundreds of thousands have filled the streets of Rome, Milan, Naples, and Bologna, demanding an arms embargo and stronger action to stop Israel’s military operations.
Protesters have carried banners depicting Meloni with the phrase “Accomplice to Genocide”, while chanting calls for justice for Gaza’s civilians.
Even Italy’s major labor unions have joined the movement, warning they will escalate actions—including dockworker strikes—unless the government halts all military shipments to Israel.
The Global Sumud Flotilla Incident
Tensions escalated after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla—a convoy of humanitarian aid ships bound for Gaza—in international waters last week. The interception resulted in the detention of nearly 500 activists, including Italians.
In response, Italian dockworkers and activists staged protests at several ports, accusing the government of failing to protect humanitarian missions.
Initially, Meloni’s government had sent naval escorts to accompany the flotilla, but the Italian navy withdrew before Israeli forces carried out their operation. As of Tuesday, six crew members from the flotilla remain detained in Israel, according to organizers.
UN and ICC Context
The complaint against Meloni follows a series of international legal actions targeting Israeli leaders. The ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and deliberate starvation of civilians in Gaza.
Although the warrants do not include genocide charges, the UN inquiry concluded that Israel’s campaign meets the legal definition of genocide, marking one of the most damning assessments to date.
Meanwhile, several Hamas officials were also subject to ICC warrants earlier this year, though all have since been killed in Israeli attacks, according to reports.
Growing Pressure on Meloni’s Government
The ICC complaint intensifies political pressure on Meloni’s right-wing coalition, which has faced criticism for aligning too closely with Washington and Tel Aviv while disregarding Italy’s obligations under international law.
Human rights organizations and opposition lawmakers are calling for a parliamentary review of all defense contracts with Israel, demanding transparency over what types of arms have been exported and whether any were used in attacks on civilians.
Observers say the case could mark a turning point in European politics, testing whether Western governments can continue to arm Israel without facing international accountability.
Conclusion
The ICC complaint against Giorgia Meloni underscores how Israel’s war in Gaza is reverberating far beyond the Middle East, sparking legal and political challenges across Europe.
As the world court weighs whether to pursue the case, Italy now finds itself in the global spotlight—caught between its NATO alliances and rising domestic anger over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Whether the ICC proceeds or not, the case has already amplified calls for accountability, forcing European leaders to confront a difficult question: how long can they support Israel’s military actions without being seen as complicit in its alleged crimes?