Italian government faces political backlash over decision to join Gaza Peace Board as observer

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Italy's decision to attend the inaugural Gaza Peace Board meeting in Washington as an observer sparked domestic political debate on Monday, with opposition parties accusing the government of aligning too closely with the US.

Lawmakers from the Five Star Movement (M5S) foreign affairs committees in both chambers said: “Italy will be the only Western European and G7 nation to participate in Trump’s Peace Board, along with countries like Albania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Hungary, and Romania."

"This is yet another act of subservience by (Prime Minister Giorgia) Meloni, degrading Italy to a vassal of the United States and distancing our country from the ranks of Europe’s leading countries," they said, according to the ANSA news agency.

The lawmakers described the stance as deeply cynical, arguing it comes at a time of escalating tensions, pointing to developments in the West Bank, including moves they said amount to annexation and recognition of settlements, as well as renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza that reportedly caused fatalities.

Democratic Party deputy and Chamber Vice President Anna Ascani also criticized the move, writing on the US social media platform X: “Giorgia Meloni continues to mistake alliance for subordination. Italy cannot and must not participate in Trump’s Board of Peace. The Constitution, common sense, and dignity dictate so.”

The criticism followed Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s talks with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. Speaking afterward, Tajani said Rome considered it “appropriate” to attend in observer status, noting that “Article 9 of the Board’s Statute conflicts with the Constitution.”

He added that Italy wants “to be a protagonist, but as observers, as the European Commission will be.”

"We are doing this because we have already given so much for Gaza and will continue to do so. We are among the countries in the world that have given the most," he said.

He further added that "we are ready to train the new Gaza and Palestinian police forces, and we are ready to increase our carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) in Rafah."

"We have a direct interest in the stability of the Middle East," he stressed.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday that Italy will participate as an observer in the White House initiative of “Board of Peace."

“We were invited as an observer country, and in our view, it is a good solution regarding the problem of the war in the Middle East,” she said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

On Jan. 22, representatives of 19 countries signed the Charter of the Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Board of Peace was established within the framework of efforts toward a peaceful settlement in the Gaza Strip, and seeks peacemaking around the world. Washington has said additional states have since joined the initiative.

Its first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Washington, DC, at the leaders' level.

Italian media reported that Tajani could ultimately represent Rome at the Washington meeting, though no final decision has been announced.