He continued, "I saw inside a large yellow garbage can full of bodies. Women, adults, small children, all covered in blood, and they were murdered only because they are Jews and Israelis. During my time in captivity, they tortured me every day and left me with physical and mental scars everywhere. This captivity is not suitable for animals, certainly not for humans. Therefore, I ask you, dear people, to continue the good work for the sake of justice and peace. The October 7 massacre was without a justified reason, and was an inhuman massacre."

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Lawmakers in Italy's parliament have voted unanimously to designate femicide – the murder of a woman for reasons linked to her gender – as a separate offence under the criminal code. The measure introduces a mandatory life sentence. It was passed symbolically on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The reform follows the murder of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin, killed in November 2023 by her former boyfriend, Filippo Turetta. Her death shocked Italy and renewed the push for legal recognition of femicide. Turetta stabbed her repeatedly, then left her body beside a lake, the BBC reported.

Thousands attended Cecchettin's funeral that winter, turning the tragedy into a national reckoning. Her sister Elena's public statement resonated nationwide. "He was not a monster," she said, describing the killer as "the healthy son of a deeply patriarchal society," the BBC reported. Her comments helped ignite protests calling for structural change.

Two years later, MPs approved the new law after extensive debate. Italy now joins a small group of nations treating femicide as a distinct type of homicide. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni introduced the proposal, which gained support from both the governing coalition and the opposition. Many MPs wore red clothing in tribute to female victims of violence, the BBC reported.

Judge Paola di Nicola, who co-drafted the bill, described its intent to classify and analyze such crimes accurately: "Femicides will be classified, they will be studied in their real context, they will exist." The judge helped review 211 recent murders of women to identify repeat features before finalizing the framework, the BBC reported.

At her home in Rome, di Nicola said, "Talking of such crimes as rooted in exasperated love or strong jealousy is a distortion." She added, "This law means we will be the first in Europe to reveal the real motivation of the perpetrators, which is hierarchy and power." According to the BBC, Italy joins Cyprus, Malta, and Croatia in enshrining a definition of femicide in national law.

The statute covers killings based on "hatred, discrimination, domination, control, or subjugation of a woman as a woman," as well as those occurring when she ends a relationship or seeks independence, the BBC reported. Official data listing 116 murdered women in Italy last year – 106 of them gender-related –will now be classified separately. Future cases judged femicide will automatically draw life terms.

Giulia's father, Gino Cecchettin, told the BBC the legislation may not have saved his daughter, but said dialogue itself matters. "Before, many people especially from the centre and extreme right didn't want to hear the word femicide," he said. "Now this is a world where we can speak about it. That's a little step, but it's a step."

Following his daughter's death, Cecchettin started a foundation promoting education to combat misogyny. He said, "I wanted to understand what had come to [Filippo's] mind. He was a student, a beloved son. Like a normal guy." His research found widespread gender stereotypes and young men unable to process emotions, the BBC reported. He now visits schools across Italy urging respect and better emotional education. "If we give them the right tools," he said, "they will not act as Filippo."

However, efforts to mandate such education face resistance from far-right MPs who prefer optional courses for older students. While the bill enjoys broad backing, some experts question its legal clarity. Law professor Valeria Torre of Foggia University called it a "poisoned meatball." She told the BBC, "There is no lack of protection, no legal gap to fill." Torre argued that determining when gender is the motive will be difficult and that funding equality measures would be more effective.

Other advocates agree that legislation must be paired with wider anti-inequality programs. A new exhibition in Rome, the Museum of the Patriarchy, highlights Italy's gender imbalance, the BBC notes. Italy ranks 85th on the Global Gender Gap Index, with just over half of its women employed.

Fabiana Costantino from Action Aid Italy said, "For us, the way to fight against violence against women is to prevent the violence, and to prevent the violence we have to build equality." One showcase includes catcalls on loudspeakers and a wall projection of murdered women's names. She explained, "We have to destroy the base in order to destroy the problem in its worst form, which is femicide," the BBC reported.

The parliamentary session ended late at night with an address promising that violence against women "will not be tolerated, will not go unpunished." All 237 deputies voted in favor, greeted by applause. Judge di Nicola told the BBC this unity showed "our country has a common political will." She added, "It shows that Italy is finally speaking about violence against women having deep roots."

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For years, the scheme worked, and the pension money flowed into the greedy son's pocket, but the fraudster's carelessness led to his exposure. The images reveal why. The man, a resident of the city where the transfer was carried out, is now under investigation for fraud, impersonation, and concealment of a body.

The fraud was exposed after the son attempted to renew his mother's expired identity card. Several details trapped the son and raised authorities' suspicions: the thick neck, the skin on his hands, and, finally, the strange voice with which he spoke to the clerks. A registry office employee examining the case was not convinced. Then, Borgo Virgilio police noticed the "woman," supposedly elderly, who had no driver's license, driving a vehicle.

The photos submitted to the registry office for ID renewal showed features matching those on the registered face in the old documents, but the final result was questionable, to put it mildly. The desk clerk reported the anomaly to her superiors for further investigation. The comparison to photos of the woman from ten years earlier definitively activated the local police operation, which, after searching the 57-year-old's home, found the mummified body of the elderly woman leaning against the wall in the living room.

The man, a 56-year-old son, is accused of concealing his 85-year-old mother's death for a long time, and keeping her body at his home so he could continue receiving his pension, which included his father's allowance, a doctor who died years ago.

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According to various estimates, the number of participants in the "sniping expeditions" is approximately one hundred, comprising citizens from all over the world. Prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis noted there is a list of several people who can give testimony and will be called to testify. According to Gavazzeni, among the witnesses is a Bosnian intelligence agent with the initials ES, who was aware of the events and claims that the Italian secret services, which had staff people in Sarajevo, had information about this in 1993 and that classified files exist regarding the matter. "He told me that the Bosnian intelligence warned against the presence of at least five Italians, who were in the hills around Sarajevo, and were preparing to shoot at civilians," declared the Italian journalist and writer Gavazzeni, who claimed that same intelligence man learned for the first time about the phenomenon through documents of the Bosnian military security service to which he was exposed. These documents, according to him, contained an interrogation transcript of a Serbian volunteer who was captured by the Bosnians, who noted that the human hunting expeditions indeed exist. He joined the Bosnian Serbian militias, and on an expedition from Belgrade to Bosnia-Herzegovina, he was accompanied by at least five foreigners, three of whom were Italian, and one of whom claimed to be from Milan. All of them joined the human hunting expedition.

The name of a Serbian officer, Jovica Stanišić, who was convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, came up as one of the people involved in organizing these expeditions. The expeditions were disguised as hunting trips abroad, as a cover to justify the group's flights to Belgrade. According to that agent, "the Bosnian intelligence services believed that the Serbian security service was behind everything and that the Serbian military intelligence service was also involved, with the help of Serbian commanders in the occupied area."

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How did it happen that, specifically, the country where a distinctly right-wing government stands and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is considered a devoted Israel supporter, placed the Gaza war at the top of the public agenda? Recent polls point to a grim picture of Italian public opinion toward Israel.

A YouGov poll conducted in May found that only 13% of Italians hold a positive opinion of Israel, compared to 70% who have a negative opinion. Only 9% in Italy think the Gaza war is justified – the lowest among all countries surveyed. Another poll conducted among 800 Italians found that 15% of them think physical attacks on Jews are "justified". 18% said antisemitic graffiti is legitimate, and about 20% thought it reasonable to attack pro-Israeli professors or for businesses to reject Israeli customers.

Meloni, who faces criticism for her cautious handling of the Gaza issue, tries to maintain a delicate balance. In her speech at the UN assembly in late September, she said she would support certain sanctions against Israel and accused it of "violating humanitarian norms" that led to "civilian massacre". She called the Gaza flotilla a "dangerous and irresponsible" initiative and accused it of undermining President Trump's initiative, but simultaneously sent an Italian navy ship to escort it.

When the general strike erupted, she stung the organizers : "I expected that at least on such an important issue they wouldn't call a strike on Friday – a long weekend and revolution don't go together".

The great explosion of Italian politics

This cautious stance stems from Italy's complex political map. The country has undergone a prolonged political revolution since the early 1990s. Corruption scandals and the end of the Cold War led to the decline of traditional parties, and new forces emerged in their place. Berlusconi and the Northern League are on the right, while in the left bloc – previously dominated by the Communist and Social Democratic parties – the Democratic Party has taken the lead.

However, even the bipolar system that was created collapsed when anti-establishment populist movements, such as "Five Stars" and "the League," entered the arena. The country went through years of instability – governments replaced each other at a dizzying pace.

Meloni changed this. In the 2022 elections, her "Brothers of Italy" (Fratelli d'Italia) party surged from a fringe party with roots in post-fascist streams to become the dominant force. Meloni became not only the first woman in the role of Italian Prime Minister, but also brought relative stability – her government is one of the longest in modern Italian history. She practically restored a sort of bipolar system – center-right versus center-left.

In this climate – a bipolar system and public opinion that leans against Israel – the war becomes a battering tool of the opposition against Meloni's government.

Writer and journalist Stefano Piazza explains the political division. "In Italy, there are two main blocs. The center-right government led by Meloni supports Israel, with internal debates about proportionality, while the leftist bloc is openly anti-Israeli, with antisemitic overtones".

A central factor, according to him, is the media. "Almost all media outlets are against Israel. For two years, Israel has undergone daily demonization – TV hosts invite anyone willing to attack it, and social networks amplify the voice... It's not surprising that they're almost always the same people who support Putin. You need to follow the money".

The communist roots

Piazza explains the deep roots of the anti-Israeli movement in Italy. "The extreme left, pro-Palestinian movements and part of workers' unions like those in Genoa port, have connections to elements that were part of the Red Brigades," referring to the communist underground that operated in the country in the 1970s and 1980s, whose most famous operation was the murder of Prime Minister Aldo Moro.

"Even in the extreme right, hatred for Israel exists, as in the 'New Force' movement," he adds. "Both extremes fought each other in the past, now they're united in the street – in hatred for Israel and closeness to Putin".

However, the state of relations between the countries cannot be explained solely by extremist and external factors.

Publicist and Jewish author Niram Prati, residing in Milan, identifies two pivotal moments. "The first – Hamas' false starvation campaign that shocked the Italian public. The second – the Gaza flotilla, which became the focus of general strikes". According to him, the infrastructure for this is extensive. "Italy has the strongest workers' unions in the West and deep identification with communism, traditionally hostile to 'colonialist' Israel. Alongside criticism of Israel, there's a broad base of antisemitism that erupts outward and receives legitimacy".

The anti-Israeli climate is already manifesting on the ground, with moves that could carry economic implications for Israel and some simply expose a difficult reality. Last week, Genoa port workers refused to load containers onto a ZIM ship, claiming they contained armaments for the IDF, and the ship was forced to leave without cargo. Meanwhile, the port hosted a pan-European discussion about the possibility of disrupting all maritime transport to Israel.

At the beginning of the week, the city of Reggio Emilia granted its honor decoration to Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur known for extreme anti-Israeli positions and who became the left's star in Italy. When Mayor Marco Massari said that "ending genocide and releasing hostages are conditions for peace," he received jeers from the audience and eye-rolling from Albanese. "I forgive him," she said, "but he must promise not to say that again".

According to Prati, Gaza has become a battering tool. "Israel is a tool for the left's battering of Meloni. They're trying to embarrass her about her restrained policy... Italy is the only country that holds a general strike because of Gaza – people came to the flotilla from 50 countries, and only here do they strike".

Despite the media noise, he estimates the issue doesn't top the Italian voter's priority list. "Only 6-15% actually struck. The average Italian who wants to get to work is angry about the demonstrations. The images of vandalism play in Meloni's favor". Prati is concerned about the government's response. "Meloni doesn't want to escalate, but lack of firm response could increase the risk that something like Manchester happens".

Italy's support for Israel, according to Prati, stems largely from the political interest in maintaining excellent relations with the United States. "Italy has already adopted President Trump's proposal, which the Vatican also adopted. From the moment the Vatican also blessed the ceasefire proposal, Meloni feels more comfortable calling for a ceasefire under the conditions the American plan offers".

But with hostile public opinion and growing pressure from the street, the question is whether Italy will continue to stand beside Israel – at a time when Israel needs it to prevent choking European sanctions.

"I believe it will take time to return to normal relations, but the war must end and Israel must seriously engage in public diplomacy and publishing the truth to dismantle the lies spread by pro-Palestinians, such as starvation and the number of civilian deaths," concludes Stefano Piazza. "It's vital to dismantle pro-Palestinian propaganda so people understand what really happened".

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The announcement came hours after news broke late Wednesday night that the flotilla had been stopped, sparking mass demonstrations across Italy's major cities. Protests continued Thursday, culminating in demonstrators breaking into Turin-Caselle Airport.

CGIL said in a statement that "the armed assault on civilian ships carrying Italian citizens is a direct attack on their safety and security, not only a crime against defenseless people but a blow to the constitutional order itself." The smaller CUB labor union joined in, declaring its opposition to "the genocide in Gaza, the war and the militarization of society."

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini condemned the strike and threatened legal action. "If the arbitration committee rules the strike illegitimate, and anyone blocks roads, trains or other transport, they will face criminal consequences," he said. Salvini visited the railway network's operations center Thursday morning to monitor disruptions.

Thousands took to the streets of Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence and Genoa, blocking train stations and roads. At the height of the protests, demonstrators stormed the runways of Turin-Caselle Airport, saying they targeted the site because it is home to the headquarters of the Italian defense company Leonardo.

At the same time, students occupied university buildings in Rome, Milan and Turin, as well as high schools in Bologna and Florence, later marching in solidarity with Gaza. A major rally is planned for Thursday evening near the Colosseum in Rome.

From Copenhagen, where she was attending the European Political Community summit, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who opposed the flotilla, denounced both the flotilla and the protests. "The activists' choice will not help the Palestinian people in any way, but it will cause great discomfort to the Italian people," she said.

She also lashed out at the Italian opposition, which refuses to back US President Donald Trump's peace plan. "What remains is only the Italian left, with positions more radical than those of European states, Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority," she added.

Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, is facing a highly negative public opinion toward Israel. A YouGov poll conducted last May found that only 13% of Italians hold a favorable view of Israel, compared with 70% with an unfavorable view. Just 9% consider the military operation in Gaza justified – the lowest figure in Europe.

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Race organizers made their decision following widespread protests during Spain's recent Vuelta competition, where the Israeli-sponsored squad competed despite repeated disruptions, according to CBC Sports. Spanish authorities reported that over 100,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Madrid during the competition's final stage earlier this month. Seven stages out of the Vuelta's final 11 racing days were interrupted or ended prematurely due to protest activities, CBC Sports noted.

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The legal officials clarified that since Israel has declared a naval blockade, it must be consistently enforced without exceptions, and therefore the flotilla must not be allowed to pass. Security officials noted that the ships might contain ammunition that would aid Hamas, making it mandatory to inspect the contents before they are permitted to pass. For these reasons, it was decided that the new flotilla will be handled in a manner very similar to how the previous flotilla was managed.

Accordingly, once the flotilla reaches the maritime border of Gaza, IDF forces, led by the Israeli Navy, will operate according to international regulations and will warn the boats not to advance further. If they cooperate, they will be redirected to one of Israel's ports. If they refuse, the IDF will forcibly seize control of the boats and tow them to Israeli shores. Following their arrival in the country, the participants will undergo a legal procedure similar to what took place the last time. However, urgent discussions are being held in Israel on the question of whether to release them, especially regarding participants for whom this will be their second attempt to breach the blockade, such as Greta Thunberg.

It should be noted that based on intelligence information gathered in Israel, the flotilla is not only designed to assist Hamas propaganda but was also funded and organized by the organization, meaning the flotilla was intended to be a media gimmick from start to finish. Against this backdrop, alongside the operational preparation, there is an extensive and coordinated public relations effort by the Foreign Ministry, the IDF, the Israel Police, and the other agencies that are monitoring the flotilla and preparing to address it. This is intended to provide a real-time media response to any expected provocation from the participants. It should be noted that already, Israel's messages regarding the flotilla have garnered millions of views on social networks, whereas the participants' publications are receiving comparatively little and small attention.

Israel and Italy have offered the flotilla participants the option to unload the contents of the boats at legitimate ports in the Middle East, so that the contents could undergo a security inspection and then be transferred to the Gaza Strip through the conventional routes. Nonetheless, all the offers were rejected by them. Foreign Ministry Director General Eitan Bar Tal stated on Thursday in a response during a press conference for the foreign media, "The flotilla's refusals prove once again that its real purpose is not the transfer of humanitarian aid, but rather provocation and service to the terrorist organization Hamas. Israel reiterates: the entry of vessels into an active combat zone will not be permitted and the violation of the lawful naval siege will not be allowed."

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Unlike the usual route that passes over many countries in central and northern Europe, the plane adhered to the most southern course possible.

According to flight tracking data, so far the plane passed solely through the airspace of Greece and Italy, then continued westward toward the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar – without crossing any other foreign territory. This constituted an unusual step that pointed to the delicate political and legal situation of the prime minister.

The plane did not pass through countries that have not explicitly rejected the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Netanyahu, possibly over concern that certain European states might take action against Netanyahu following recent calls to enforce those international warrants.

Aviation experts noted that such a course is particularly unusual since it extends the flight by about 600 kilometers (373 miles) and creates operational constraints, but in this case the security and legal considerations appear to outweigh other concerns.

As it entered the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar, Wing of Zion was expected to continue directly west toward the east coast of the United States, where Netanyahu will land ahead of his scheduled speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.

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Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament that another naval vessel would be sent to "escort the flotilla's boats," according to Reuters.

It remains unclear how far the Italian navy intends to accompany the activists, who claim they were attacked by IDF drones, and whether Rome is prepared for a confrontation should the activists be detained by the Israeli Navy.

The announcement came a day after flotilla participants alleged that drones targeted them overnight Tuesday while they were sailing south of Crete. According to their account, more than 10 drones dropped munitions and incendiary materials on them over the course of three hours. "We saw multiple drones, unidentified objects were falling on us, our radio was jammed and we heard explosions near several boats," the flotilla organizers said.

Polish MP Frank Sterczewski, who is on board one of the ships, wrote on X that "there were 13 attacks on 10 boats, including the one I am on. Three boats were damaged."

German anti-Israel activist Yasmin Aker added in an Instagram video: "We are carrying only humanitarian aid. We have no weapons. We are not a threat to anyone."

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