Rome, Italy — Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto sharply condemned Israel’s handling of the Gaza conflict, describing the government’s approach as having “lost its reason and humanity.” In an interview with the Italian daily La Stampa, Crosetto criticized the ongoing military campaign and suggested that international pressure, including sanctions, may be necessary.
“What is happening is unacceptable. We are not facing a military operation with collateral damage, but the pure denial of the law and the founding values of our civilization,” Crosetto said. He emphasized Italy’s commitment to humanitarian aid but stressed the need to compel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider his strategy.
Crosetto pointed to the occupation of Gaza and recent serious incidents in the West Bank as a “qualitative leap” requiring decisive international action. “It wouldn’t be a move against Israel, but a way to save that people from a government which has lost reason and humanity,” he said.
The minister made a clear distinction between governments, states, peoples, and religions, noting this applies both to Netanyahu’s administration and to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose actions he described as “dangerously similar.”
Crosetto’s remarks come as Netanyahu defends his plan to take control of Gaza City and dismantle remaining Hamas strongholds — a plan that has drawn widespread international criticism.
Italy has so far refrained from joining countries recognizing Palestine as a state. Crosetto defended this position, stating that “recognizing a state that doesn’t exist risks turning into nothing but a political provocation in a world dying of provocations.”
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