Italy's defense minister slams Netanyahu govt, says it must be stopped
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Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemns Netanyahu’s government over the Gaza war and signals possible international sanctions.
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Italy's Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto arrives to discuss support for Ukraine and European defense in Paris, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP)
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the Israeli government has "lost its sanity and humanity" in the ongoing war on Gaza, while also indicating that Italy is open to the possibility of imposing international sanctions.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, Crosetto stated that what is happening in Gaza is "unacceptable," adding, "We are not looking at a military operation causing collateral damage, but rather at an absolute denial of the law and the fundamental values of our civilization."
Crosetto also stressed that Italy remains committed to humanitarian aid, but added, "Now we must find a way to force Netanyahu to think clearly, beyond just condemnation."
Regarding the possibility of imposing sanctions, Crosetto pointed out that "the occupation of Gaza and certain serious actions in the West Bank represent a qualitative leap that demands decisive measures to force Netanyahu to step back."
“And it wouldn’t be a move against Israel, but a way to save that people from a government which has lost reason and humanity,” Crosetto continued.
Previously, Italy, along with Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, announced its objections to the Israeli plan to occupy and take over Gaza.
The foreign ministers of the five countries published a joint statement in which they called on "Israel" to promptly address and revise its newly enacted registration system for international humanitarian aid groups.
The exchange comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that "Israel’s" security cabinet had approved a plan to extend control over the entire Gaza Strip to establish a security perimeter before handing authority to a new "civilian administration."
Netanyahu insisted that "Israel" does not intend to maintain permanent control of the territory, but critics warn the move amounts to a full military takeover that will displace large numbers of civilians, deepen the humanitarian crisis, and undermine any prospects for a negotiated solution.
