Italy has been persisting in exporting arms to Israel regardless of assurances final yr that the federal government would halt such gross sales in response to Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip, the nation’s protection minister stated Thursday.
However, Guido Crosetto instructed parliament that solely beforehand signed orders have been being honored after checks had been made to make sure the weaponry wouldn’t be used towards Gaza civilians.
Under Italian legislation, arms exports are banned to nations which can be waging battle and people deemed to be violating worldwide human rights.
Crosetto introduced final yr following the explosion of violence in Gaza that the Italian authority that oversees the sale of army items, generally known as Uama, had blocked authorization of the switch of arms to Israel.
However, selecting aside information from statistics company ISTAT, unbiased media outlet Altreconomia this week reported that Italy had exported 2.1 million euros ($2.30 million) in arms and munitions to Israel within the final three months of 2023.
In December alone, Italy exported 1.3 million euros value of arms, thrice the extent of the identical month in 2022.
Crosetto instructed parliament these have been excellent contracts. “Uama checked them on a case-by-case basis and they did not concern materials that could be used against civilians in Gaza,” he stated.
Francesco Vignarca, head of a nationwide pacifist community for disarmament, stated there was little readability surrounding arms gross sales and criticized latest strikes to reform the export legislation.
“With the (proposed) changes, decisions (on exports) will be more political and transparency will be reduced,” he stated, including that each one excellent arms contracts to Israel wanted to be suspended.
Italy’s conservative authorities supplied quick assist to Israel within the wake of the shock Hamas assault on Oct. 7 however has since criticized the Israeli invasion of Gaza, saying far too many civilians have been dying and urging an instantaneous cease-fire.
Source: www.dailysabah.com