Italy's right-wing government is ready to recognise the state of Palestine, subject to conditions, after several other EU member states moved to do so this week, Euronews reports.
Premier Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday evening that the parties forming her government will present a motion calling for Palestine's recognition in the Italian Parliament, subject to two conditions: release of the hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October 2023 attacks and exclusion of Hamas from any involvement in a future Palestinian government.
"I am not against recognising Palestine, but we need to focus on the right priorities, Meloni said. The decision reflects those taken by Belgium and France, even in its conditions, and marks a significant change in Meloni's stance, which was at odds with Italian public sentiment and triggered a wave of protests in Italian cities.
A general strike took place on Monday across Italy involving around 500,000 people, in response to “the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli army and the threats against the international Global Sumud Flotilla mission”, as a statement from the USB trade union federation stated.
Recognising Palestine was one of the requests coming from the so-called “pro-Pal Movement”, a group of civil society organisations, grassroots trade unions, and ad hoc citizens' associations.
