ROME 

The Italian government's decision to impose an arms embargo on Israel is consistent with its obligations and constitutional provisions, according to a military historian and commentator.

In an interview with Anadolu, Paolo Mauri, a military historian and commentator, said the government's policy in this regard is consistent with its domestic law as well as its international obligations.

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, imposed an arms embargo on Tel Aviv in October 2024 amid Israel's ongoing attacks and bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip.

It came amid strong calls from opposition parties on the government to take a stronger stance against Israel.

Previously, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani repeatedly stated that Italy has not sent arms to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023, citing the Italian constitution.

According to Italian law, arms exports are banned to countries that are waging war and those deemed to be violating international human rights.

In March 2024, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that the government has not issued any new approval for arms exports to Israel since the beginning of Israeli attacks in October 2023.

Citing some reports suggesting Israeli procurement of M-346 planes from Italy, Mauri noted that this model is not a fighter but a training plane.

"In fact, they are pilot training aircraft that Tel Aviv ordered in 2012 (from Italy) and were delivered between 2014 and 2016. As far as we know, these aircraft have never been used in combat operations."

Also speaking to Anadolu, Italian academic Valeria Giannotta said Italy supports both "Israel's right to exist and a two-state solution."

She noted that the relations between Rome and Tel Aviv are shaped by strong complementarities in the fields of security, defense, and intelligence, beyond ideological and political dimensions.

Although trade relations and cooperation continue, Premier Meloni reconsidered her position and halted arms sales after the violence escalated and the conflict spread to Lebanon last year, said Giannotta, who is also scientific director of the Observatory on Türkiye at the Rome-based Centre Studies of International Politics (CeSPI).