Image by Sophie Popplewell.

What is happening in Italy regarding Gaza is unprecedented in the history of solidarity between the country and any other international cause anywhere. A popular uprising is underway, the consequences of which are likely to alter, not only Rome’s position on the Israeli genocide in the Strip, but the country’s own political structure altogether.

To understand why such a conclusion is a rational one, we must consider two important factors: the popular mobilization throughout the country and the historical context of Italy’s political attitude towards Palestine and the Middle East.

When the Israeli genocide in Gaza started, the language and political posturing of the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni were more or less consistent with the political positions adopted by other European leaders.

In her visit to Israel on October 21, 2023, Meloni’s language was that of unconditional condemnation of Palestinians for the October 7 attack and equally unconditional support of Israel and its ‘right to defend itself’.

That position remained consistent throughout the war until a few months ago, when the Israeli genocide reached levels too extreme even for Meloni to ignore. This was expressed in the words of Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who stated, last August, that Israel “lost its sanity and humanity.”

Despite this, Italian weapons........

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