Throughout 2024, the Italian Government and Parliament remained actively engaged with the ongoing hostilities between Hamas and Israel and with their destabilising effect on the broader Middle East. Attention was also directed towards the intensification of Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.[1] More specifically, Italy’s position can be summarised as follows: 1) condemnation of the attacks perpetrated by both State and non-State actors against Israel; 2) recognition of Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law but, at the same time, a strong emphasis on the need to guarantee humanitarian access to Gaza and a condemnation of settler violence in the West Bank; 3) endorsement of a two-State solution negotiated between the parties as the sole viable solution to the conflict.
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The Hamas Attack of 7 October and Israel’s Military Response
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on the State of Israel, firing rockets from the Gaza Strip and breaching the Gaza “border” by air, sea and land. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths,[1] as well as the abduction of hostages in the Gaza Strip. The incident – and Israel’s subsequent military response – had a profound impact on the international community and occupied a significant part of the Italian parliamentary debate on foreign affairs in 2023, which continued in 2024.
Continue readingThe Veto Power at the Security Council: Emerging Trends and Continuity with the Past
In 2023, Italy repeatedly expressed its position on the veto power of the five permanent members (P5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This position is reflected in the statements concerning the work of the UNSC[1] and in those outlining the reform proposal of the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group. The views expressed by Italian representatives developed along two lines: a harsh criticism of the veto power because of its contradiction with the principle of sovereign equality, and the need to monitor – but in the short term maintain – the use of this voting mechanism in the light of the necessities of multilateralism.
Continue readingViolations of International Humanitarian Law and Issues of Accountability in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Not surprisingly, in 2022, the Italian Government(s)[1] extensively dealt with several international humanitarian law (IHL) implications of the Russia-Ukraine war: firstly, the systematic violations of the rules on targeting that protect civilians and civilian objects against the effects of hostilities; secondly, the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territories under the law of belligerent occupation; lastly, the prospects for accountability for serious violations of IHL. These aspects are explored in the following analysis.
Continue readingOn Some International Agreements Concerning Nuclear Weapons in Light of the New Challenges Posed by the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The year 2022 was undoubtedly marked by a strong prominence of the debate related to nuclear weapons, driven by a series of institutional events such as the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the plenary United Nations (UN) meeting against nuclear testing and the first World Conference of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Continue readingRecognition, Fact-Finding Missions and Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan
Recognition of the Taliban Government of Afghanistan did not feature prominently in the Italian parliamentary debates of 2022, unlike the previous year.[1] In fact, despite an explicit request for recognition by the Taliban,[2] the alarming news on egregious violations of human rights, especially women’s rights, in Afghanistan further reduced the Taliban’s already slim chance to see their own Government recognised.
Continue readingInternational Standards on Criminal Punishment: Italy’s Position Between Progressive Tendencies and Lack of Legal Clarity
In 2022, the Italian Government addressed the issue of criminal punishment on various occasions, thus shedding light on the interpretation of its features in accordance with relevant international standards. The resulting picture is a composite one, anchored in human rights and directed at expanding the reach of international law to an area traditionally considered to be within the reserved domain of States – but not always on the basis of clear legal arguments.
Continue readingThe Non-Recognition of the Separatist Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and of Their Subsequent Accession to Russia with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia
On 21 February 2022, at the end of a TV speech to the nation, the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin, signed the act of recognition of the separatist republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. On 23 February, before the Chamber of Deputies (644th Meeting, XVIII Legislature), the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Luigi Di Maio, made an urgent Government briefing on this issue.
Continue readingThe Resumption of Hostilities between Israel and Palestinian Armed Groups and the Qualification of Palestinian Civil Society Associations as Terrorist Organizations
The year 2021 was marked by the most violent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza since 2014. In May, clashes and protests for scheduled forced evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, and for increasing Israeli settlement activity, spiraled into eleven days of military confrontation. On 17 May 2021, at the Security Council open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the European Union (EU) expressed its concerns over the upsurge in violence and called “for an immediate cessation of hostilities”.[1] Similarly, on 12 May, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General remarked that “de-escalation is an absolute must to protect the lives of civilians”.[2]
Continue readingResponsibility for the Spread of COVID-19 and Socio-economic Concerns in the Fight Against the Pandemic
The year 2020 was marked by COVID-19, which was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO).[1] COVID-19 not only caused millions of deaths around the world, but it impacted almost every aspect of human life, from the world economy to personal freedoms and the right to healthcare.
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