Meloni strongly condemns Netanyahu. The prime minister (in agreement with Tajani) is less Trumpian, more pro-European, and a "friend" of the Pope.
Giorgia Meloni and Benjamin Netanyahu
"The Israeli raids on Gaza also hit the Church of the Holy Family. The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude." At 10:22 this morning, just minutes after the news agencies reported on the events in Gaza, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a swift and forceful statement criticizing the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government .
The prime minister is referring to the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, which was hit by a raid by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Tel Aviv, resulting in two deaths and six serious injuries. Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, suffered minor leg injuries. With this statement, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party confirms her international and geopolitical repositioning, which also touches on the issue of Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariffs against the European Union starting August 1st.
Meloni, always well advised by her sister Arianna, is shifting the government's foreign policy stance —in full agreement with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani —toward a more pro-European stance (though not pro-Macronian, and Rome will never fall into the category of "willing," even if support for Ukraine is not in question) and less pro-Trump. This isn't a momentous turning point, nor a complete change of direction, but it's a significant shift that brings Italy closer to Brussels and less to Washington .
Also because in the trade war of tariffs so far the White House has not shown any positive signals towards the Prime Minister and our country, despite Meloni's trips to the States both for the tycoon's inauguration in January and on other more recent occasions, including meetings in Rome with the (Catholic) Vice-President JD Vance .
The Prime Minister has a useful direct line to Ursula von der Leyen on many issues, especially economic ones (the EU budget and beyond), and so, in the eyes of European governments and especially those of Friedrich Merz , head of government in Berlin, coming out with such a harsh stance against Netanyahu shows abroad a less sovereign Italy. Another crucial point is the relationship with Leo XIV, whom the Prime Minister recently met in the Vatican.
Meloni is extremely committed to maintaining excellent relations with the Pope , and thus her timely and forceful outburst against Israel. These words of condemnation have never before been used by the leader of the Italian Communist Party (FdI) against the Jewish state. With this statement, the prime minister also intends to "defend the blow" of a possible intervention by Pier Silvio Berlusconi , who has been critical of the Israeli prime minister for years, unlike the position held until now by the prime minister's party.
All this could create further friction within the majority with the League, which yesterday, led by Massimiliano Romeo , group leader in the Senate, criticized Europe (Macron in the lead) and Zelensky, who "only asks for weapons," on Affaritaliani.it . Now, Israel is also criticizing it, and we know how close Matteo Salvini is to Netanyahu and fully supports his policies. But—as sources from both the prime minister's party and Forza Italia explain—Italy's official foreign policy "is decided by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs." And by no one else.
Affari Italiani
