Italian FM says arms to 'Israel' ceased after war on Gaza began
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Tajani makes the revelation in response to Elly Schlein, who had previously urged the government to halt weaponry sales to the Middle East, "especially to Israel."
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Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks in London on June 21, 2023. (AFP)
The Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed that Italy had ceased its arms supplies to the Israeli occupation once the war on Gaza began.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Saturday that the number of Palestinian martyrs due to the ongoing genocide led by the Israeli army since October 7 has reached 24,927, with 62,388 individuals sustaining injuries.
In 24 hours only, the Israeli occupation committed 14 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 165 and injuring 280.
APA reported, citing Sputnik, that Tajani made the revelation in response to Elly Schlein, the leader of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, who had previously urged the government to halt weaponry sales to the Middle East, "especially to Israel," to avoid fueling the continuing war.
During an interview for the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale on Friday, Tajani said, "It's all blocked. The period when the most weapons were sent to "Israel" was during the premiership of [former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe] Conte."
However, he noted that since the "outbreak of hostilities," all deliveries of "weapons systems and military equipment of any kind" have been suspended.
The revelation follows recent reports of Italy refusing to participate in recent US-UK strikes on alleged Ansar Allah targets in Yemen, as per an anonymous government source who cited the preference for a "calming" approach in the Red Sea as the reason for Italy's decision.
