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Rome referred to Italian judiciary for complicity in genocide

Students protest against the Italian government in Turin, northwestern Italy, on March 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

A group of lawyers and Palestinian community representatives residing in Italy have lodged a formal complaint against the Italian government for complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza at Rome's Public Prosecutor Office.

They have also requested a ‘cease and desist’ order for the sale of weapons to Tel Aviv to be issued against Italy's foreign ministry.

The plaintiffs have asked the Italian magistrates to ascertain whether Italy is in breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention, and if Rome is guilty of aiding and abetting Tel Aviv's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip

We should have filed the complaint long before given Israel's brutal violation of human rights in Gaza.

Our move is an attempt to try to put an end to all forms of arrogance and criminality; war crimes, genocides, massacres must never again be allowed, worldwide.

In the last four or five years, Italy has changed its policy with regard to Occupied Palestinian Territory, sending more and more weapons to Israel.

Hatem Sandoga, Italian-Palestinian Citizen

For decades, Italy had tried to de-escalate conflict in the West Asia region. But lately, the Italian government has chosen to side with Tel Aviv and its genocidal war on Gaza.

By Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto's own admission, Rome has continued to export arms to Israel despite assurances last year that the government was blocking such sales following Tel Aviv's invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Under Italian law, arms exports are banned to those that are waging war and those deemed to be violating international human rights norms.

Italy is the world's third biggest arms exporter to Israel, despite Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying his country has halted all arms shipments to Tel Aviv.

As one of the signatories of the complaint, I believe that Italy, as a signatory itself to the Genocide Convention, has not only done nothing to prevent the genocide in Gaza, but it has aided and abetted Israeli war crimes by sending weapons and helping fund arms simply upon the request of Israel.

 As a result, Italy is in breach of the convention.

Fabio Marcelli, International Law Academic

Human rights groups, charities, and individuals around the world are also pursuing cases against their governments for complicity with Israel in the Palestinian genocide.

Hundreds of rallies and other initiatives in solidarity with the besieged Palestinians have been held in Italy since early October.


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