Italy has suspended the issuance of new licenses for the export of any weapons to Israel since the start of the Jewish state's operation in the Gaza Strip after the radical Palestinian group Hamas attacked the country on October 7, 2023. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced this on Tuesday.
“After the start of the Israeli operation in Gaza, the government immediately suspended the issuance of any new licenses for the export of arms to Israel,” she was quoted as saying on the government website. “Therefore, all contracts signed after October 7 were not fulfilled.” The prime minister added that the issuance of licenses will not resume , while the risk remains that weapons will be used while the crisis situation remains in the Palestinian enclave. On October 5, French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on France Inter radio, called stopping the supply of weapons to Israel for fighting in Gaza a priority on the path to a political settlement of the conflict. He added that Lebanon should not become a new Gaza and called on the authorities of the Jewish state to stop hostilities. On October 11, nine Mediterranean EU countries (MED-9) - Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, France, Croatia - following the summit, they advocated for the suspension of sending weapons to Israel used in military operations in the Gaza Strip and the south Lebanon.
“After the start of the Israeli operation in Gaza, the government immediately suspended the issuance of any new licenses for the export of arms to Israel,” she was quoted as saying on the government website. “Therefore, all contracts signed after October 7 were not fulfilled.” The prime minister added that the issuance of licenses will not resume , while the risk remains that weapons will be used while the crisis situation remains in the Palestinian enclave. On October 5, French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on France Inter radio, called stopping the supply of weapons to Israel for fighting in Gaza a priority on the path to a political settlement of the conflict. He added that Lebanon should not become a new Gaza and called on the authorities of the Jewish state to stop hostilities. On October 11, nine Mediterranean EU countries (MED-9) - Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, France, Croatia - following the summit, they advocated for the suspension of sending weapons to Israel used in military operations in the Gaza Strip and the south Lebanon.
