The Italian left aligns with Iran in the conflict Israel is waging to prevent the ayatollahs’ regime from developing nuclear weapons
In recent days, various voices from the Italian left have expressed their support for Iran following the recent clash with Israel, sparking debate within the country due to the nature of the Tehran regime and the political stance being taken.
The National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI) was one of the first organizations to speak out, issuing a statement condemning what it describes as an “Israeli aggression against Iran.” While acknowledging the “theocratic and obscurantist” nature of the Iranian government, it warns that recent events pose a threat to global peace and coexistence among nations with different political systems.
The president of ANPI, Gianfranco Pagliarulo, took part on June 15 in a demonstration held under the slogan “Save Gaza” in Monte Sole (Bologna), the site of a Nazi massacre in 1944. During the event, Pagliarulo stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “represents a danger to global peace.” Several public figures expressed their support for the Palestinian cause at the rally, including representatives from the CGIL trade union, the Democratic Party (PD), and the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (U.CO.I.I.), who displayed a banner reading: “Gaza is today’s Marzabotto.”
ANPI’s stance was also reflected in its official publication, Patria Indipendente, which featured a cover on the issue titled: “Stop the mass murderer Netanyahu.”
On the political front, MEP Ilaria Salis, recently elected by the Green and Left Alliance (AVS) coalition, called for a clear condemnation of Israel for its actions against Iran, demanding an end to military support for the Jewish state and its isolation on the international stage.
The radical left-wing group Potere al Popolo has organized protests in several Italian cities, including Rome and Florence, under the slogan “Hands off Iran.”
Criticism of Israel has also come from the center-left. PD secretary Elly Schlein expressed concern over the escalation of the conflict, describing Israel’s actions as a “unilateral attack.” Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, of the Five Star Movement, was even more direct: “After the genocide against the Palestinians, now the attack on Iran. Is anyone going to stop Netanyahu?” he stated.
These positions reflect a growing trend within the Italian left, which increasingly places blame on Israel for the rising tensions in the Middle East, while adopting a more restrained critical stance toward the Iranian regime.
