A recent report published by the monthly magazine Altreconomia has highlighted Italy's involvement in the Gaza carnage, despite Rome having declared on numerous occasions that it had stopped sending weapons to Israel since October 7th, 2023.
The report revealed that Leonardo, an Italian company controlled by Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance, has admittedly supplied weapons components and logistics to Israel in 2024.
Leonardo has been providing logistics support to the Air Force's M-346 jet trainers it had sold Israel nine years ago.
Among other things, the Italian weapons firm has also supplied Tel Aviv with protection systems and tactical radars mounted on armored bulldozers used in Gaza to help raise Palestinian homes and infrastructures to the ground.
According to the report by the Italian magazine, the country's foreign ministry, contrary to what Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly stated, has authorized the transfer of weapons from Leonardo to Israel over the past months.
The one thing that strikes me the most is the hypocrisy that guides the Italian, the European, the US government officers, when they urge peace, a ceasefire in Gaza, in Lebanon, while they continue to provide weapons to Israel.
When I hear Minister Tajani say a truce is needed, what is he exactly talking about?
Vincenzo Brandi, Rete No War
On Wednesday, Italy's Foreign Minister Tajani addressed the Lower House and Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense committees following Iran's Operation True Promise II, in response to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, in violation of Iran's sovereignty, and more recently, General Abbas Nilforoushan of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp, who was martyred along with Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
This is what Tajani had to say to journalists when asked about Israel's brutal attacks on Lebanon and Israel's non compliance with international norms:
When there's nobody in Lebanon who guarantees the safety of Israelis on the other side of the border attacking Hezbollah while it continues to launch rockets on Israel amounts to self defense.
Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister
Italy is the third largest supplier of military equipment to Israel, following the US and Germany contributing around 1% of Tel Aviv's total arms imports.