Giuseppe Conte accuses Giorgia Meloni of a fake turnaround on Israel Flotilla stance

Former Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent condemnation of the Israeli boarding of activist vessels was a “fake turnaround.” In an interview with *Repubblica*, Conte compared the current incident to a previous Flotilla raid, calling both “deportations in international waters” and describing the government’s shift as hypocritical and driven by a drop in domestic support after the failed justice referendum.

Conte urged Italy to break the EU‑Israel association agreement, impose heavy sanctions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies, and recognize a Palestinian state. He also accused Italy of blocking a tougher EU condemnation of Israel, labeling the government’s stance as “ignominious.” The comments have sparked reactions in other European capitals.

The criticism reflects a broader political dispute in Italy over the country’s foreign‑policy approach to the Gaza war and the government’s handling of EU‑level decisions.