Italian PM Meloni And His Minister Reported To ICC Regarding Alleged Genocide Involvement In Gaza

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. (Wikimedia Commons/Vox Espamen)

JAKARTA - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday he and two of his ministers had been reported to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of involvement in genocide in connection with Israeli attacks on Gaza.

In an interview with RAI state television station, PM Meloni said Defense Minister Guidelines Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had been reported, and "I think" is also Roberto Cingolani, head of the company Leonardo.

"I don't think there are any cases like this in the world or in history," PM Meloni said.

However, PM Meloni did not explain further who filed the case against him and his ministers.

Italy has experienced a series of demonstrations over the past week, leading hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets to protest against mass killings in Gaza, with many protesters also directing its attack on PM Meloni.

The government of its right-wing, which is generally a staunch supporter of Israel, recently distanced itself from what it called the "disproportionate" attack in Gaza, but has not cut any commercial or diplomatic ties, or recognized the Palestinian state.

The latest conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7, 2023, when a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, killing 1,200 people and causing 251 others to be held hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded to this by carrying out airstrikes, blockades and land operations in the Gaza Strip. The two sides agreed to a ceasefire and exchange of hostages from January 19 to March 18.

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 67,173, while the number of injured victims had reached 169,780, including 20,179 children, 10,427 women, 4,813 elderly and 31,754 men, quoted from WAFA.

PM Meloni said he was "surprised" by allegations of involvement in genocide because "who knows this situation knows that Italy has not allowed, say, a new arms supply to Israel after October 7".

Responding to his statement, a spokesman Leonardo said Cindolani had declared the company's position in an interview with the daily Corriere della Sera last month, when he said the company's allegations of involvement in genocide were "very serious slander."