Rimini, Italy —Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered one of the most forceful Western rebukes to date of Israel’s military operations in Gaza on Wednesday, sharply condemning the double attack on Nasser Hospital that killed journalists as a breach of press freedom and a blow to humanitarian values, describing it as yet another dark episode in Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking at a political conference in Rimini, Meloni described Monday’s strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza as “unjustifiable,” an incident she deemed “an unacceptable attack on press freedom and on all those who courageously risk their lives to report on the tragedy of war.” The strike claimed at least 20 lives, including five journalists from major international news outlets.
Although reaffirming Italy’s long-standing support for Israel’s right to defend itself in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 2023 attack, Meloni did not shy away from criticism. She said the operation had clearly exceeded the principle of proportionality, warning that such actions jeopardize the fragile blueprint of a two-state solution and undermine valuable Christian communities and innocent civilians trapped in the Gaza Genocide.
Meloni also called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military occupation and ongoing Gaza Genocide, urging the Israeli government to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries, end settlement expansion in the West Bank, and reconsider the impending assault on Gaza City. Her remarks underscored Italy’s attempt to balance its support for Israel with growing concerns over the number of civilian and journalistic casualties.
International reactions have been mounting. UN officials, press freedom organizations, and global leaders have demanded a thorough investigation into the strike, emphasizing protections for the press and the sanctity of medical facilities under international law.
As Israel readies a new military attack in Gaza City, deemed the Hamas stronghold, rising civilian death tolls and mounting international outcry have placed mounting pressure on Western governments. Meloni’s candid condemnation, though atypical among her peers, may signal a shifting posture in Europe toward a more staunch defense of humanitarian principles.
According to Reuters, Giorgia Meloni’s remarks were first reported from her Rimini speech, where she condemned the hospital strike and its lethal toll, notably among journalists, as “unjustifiable,” describing the attack as a direct affront to press freedom and urging renewed efforts to uphold humanitarian and political solutions in Gaza.
