ROME —Italian MP Angelo Bonelli, co-leader of the Greens and Left Alliance, has sparked intense political debate after issuing a stark denunciation of the Italian government’s military cooperation with Israel. Speaking during Question Time in the Chamber of Deputies, Bonelli revealed that Israeli F-35 fighter jets had recently conducted training exercises at the Italian Air Force base in Foggia before being deployed in airstrikes on Gaza.

 

“Several weeks ago, at the Foggia military base, the 32nd Wing of the Italian Air Force hosted Israeli F-35s for exercises in Italian airspace,” Bonelli stated. “You allowed those jets—jets that would soon return to bomb Gaza—to train on Italian soil. You should be ashamed.”

 

The MP called on the government to revoke the existing Italy-Israel military cooperation memorandum, directing his appeal to Luca Ciriani, the Minister for Parliamentary Relations. In his response, Ciriani defended Israel’s military actions as a “legitimate reaction” to what he described as a “senseless attack” by Hamas.

 

Bonelli sharply rebuked the minister’s characterization. “We are always urged to maintain a calm tone, but that becomes impossible when someone speaks of a ‘legitimate reaction.’ Legitimate to do what? To raze a city? To kill 18,000 children? Do you even realize what you’re saying?” he retorted.

 

He went on to condemn what he called the government’s “unacceptable hypocrisy”: “You speak of humanitarian efforts, of bringing Palestinian children to our hospitals. And yet, at the same time, you host and support military training for those who go on to bomb them. Shame on you.”

 

Bonelli concluded his remarks with a searing indictment of Italy’s defense policy: “You claim to promote dialogue through military cooperation, but this is indefensible. The example of the Israeli F-35s training in Foggia speaks for itself. Shame—shame.”

 

The statement has intensified calls from opposition parties and peace advocacy groups for greater transparency and accountability in Italy’s military partnerships, particularly in the context of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

 

PS