Gaza, Meloni between slips and fears: the prime minister slips up about "genocide," but remains the only one loyal to Trump and Netanyahu.

"I work on the Palestinian genocide every day," Giorgia Meloni blurted out yesterday, using the most controversial and politically charged, and even unwarranted, term there is. A quick glance at social media reveals a barrage of insults directed at Senator for Life Liliana Segre, who has spoken out against the massacres in Gaza but refused to call them " a genocide." There was unanimous applause for Israeli writer David Grossman , who, albeit in a very different sense from that used by the pro-Palestinian movement, employed the magic word now considered (wrongly, no matter) the dividing line between those opposed to the extermination of Gazans and those who are nevertheless complicit with Netanyahu.

It's almost certain that the prime minister's utterance was an oversight or perhaps a slip of the tongue. She was responding quickly to a young man who had asked her what the government was doing to "stop the Palestinian genocide." It's highly unlikely she would have used that term in a carefully considered speech. But distractions are often eloquent, and slips always are. The fact that Meloni uttered that word remains significant. It reveals an awareness that she cannot remain faithful to the positions she has taken up to now if, as is likely, Netanyahu actually invades Gaza. The world's reaction is already unanimous, furious, and unanimous. The German government has announced the suspension of shipments of military equipment that " could be used in the Gaza Strip ." This isn't just any government. For obvious historical reasons, Germany has always been the country most opposed to moves against Israel. It was Chancellor Merz and Giorgia Meloni who thwarted the proposal, voted by a majority of EU countries, to freeze the EU-Israel trade agreement as a sanction for the continued hostilities and massacres in the Strip. Ursula von der Leyen herself, President of the European Commission and known for her excellent relations with the Italian Prime Minister, officially asked the Israeli government to " reconsider its decision," and European Council President Costa went much further, stating that the occupation of Gaza "must have consequences for relations between the EU and Israel."

In Italy, the entire opposition is targeting the government and its leader, accusing them of supporting Netanyahu. Conte speaks of an "indelible stain on Italy," Elly of " inertia that has now become complicity." Even Democratic Party members very close to Israel are speaking out, such as former secretary Piero Fassino, who is harsher than ever: "The Netanyahu government's crazy decision must be stopped." Moreover, in this case, it's even difficult to avoid criticizing Israel: with the IDF and Mossad opposing Netanyahu's move in their sights, for once, the only one targeted is that country's government. We are only on the eve of the occupation. It's easy to imagine how much more heated the national and international political climate will be if and when Tashal's troops actually enter Gaza City. Giorgia Meloni certainly imagines it. Deciding what to do, however, is far from easy. It's highly likely, barring an unlikely ceasefire within a few weeks, that most European countries will recognize a Palestinian state. The United States holds the opposite view: " We're not even thinking about it," Vice President Vance clarified yesterday, adding, however, that the US does not agree with Netanyahu's decision. Meloni is caught in the middle, and moreover, having so far declared that "now is not the time," reconsidering the decision without appearing to be dragged along by European partners, an image she detests, would not be easy. The possibility of harsh trade sanctions is not being considered for now, also because Germany itself has not yet moved on that front.

The arms supply remains, an issue on which Italy has so far played the Italian game. The government halted the signing of new contracts after the attack on Gaza but continues to honor those signed previously, and Crosetto had no intention of going further and denouncing those agreements as well. But pulling it off could prove impossible. With Gaza, the Five Star Movement has achieved an excellent propaganda goal. For left-wingers, the issue has always been paramount, even more so over the past 22 months, and Conte has appeared as the most rigid and consistent defender of the Palestinians and an unequivocal enemy of Israel. But it's not just left-wingers who are outraged by the images coming from the Strip. The push for real decisions against Netanyahu is now also coming from the right-wing base, and for the prime minister, ignoring those sentiments and doing nothing could prove very, indeed, too dangerous.

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David Romoli