Italy's PM accused of complicity in genocide

The International Criminal Court, or ICC, has been asked to investigate Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and two of her ministers over their alleged complicity in genocide, she has told Italian state television broadcaster RAI.

Meloni said the allegations relate to her country's support for Israel's military activities in Gaza.

"I don't believe there is another case like this in the world or in history," she said, adding that the ICC had been asked to investigate Guido Crosetto, Italy's minister of defense, and Antonio Tajani, its foreign minister, as well as Roberto Cingolani, the head of weapons maker Leonardo.

She said they have all been "targeted by a complaint before the International Criminal Court for complicity in genocide" but did not say who had referred them to the intergovernmental organization that is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and that has 125 member states.

Meloni told RAI "anyone who knows the situation is aware that Italy has not authorized new, let's say, arms supplies to Israel after Oct 7".

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Italy was one of three countries to export major conventional arms to Israel from 2020 to 2024, with the other two being United States and Germany.

She and her right-wing government have come under pressure in recent days, following massive demonstrations across Italy that have brought hundreds of thousands of people out onto the streets in opposition to Israel's offensive in Gaza, which has continued for two years and claimed around 67,000 lives.

Throughout Israel's Gaza operation, Meloni's government has been supportive of its response to the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel that claimed 1,200 lives and that saw another 251 people taken hostage.But Meloni has recently trimmed back her support, saying Israel's response — which United Nations investigators have said amounts to genocide — has become "disproportionate".

Critics have noted, however, that while she has become less vocal in her support for Israel, she has not yet cut commercial or diplomatic ties with Israel and has not yet recognized the state of Palestine.

Despite Meloni's assertion that her case is unique, similar cases have, in fact, been filed from elsewhere in Europe, with German activists submitting complaints to both the ICC and local courts over government officials' and arms manufacturers' involvement in sending weapons to Israel for use in Gaza.

And lawyers in France have also asked the ICC to investigate that country's involvement, and to probe whether it amounts to complicity in genocide.

Additionally, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his former defense minister, who are wanted for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Reuters news agency said the complaint against Meloni was filed with the ICC on Oct 1 and has been signed by around 50 people, including law professors and lawyers.