Gaza Strip: the Carabinieri at the center of the Italian contribution to the peace plan

ROME – Italy is preparing to play a leading role in a possible peacekeeping mission in the Gaza Strip, should the peace plan promoted by the United States and supported by the main European powers be implemented.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has confirmed our country's willingness to participate in an international initiative under UN auspices or in a multilateral context: «As for the future, that is, the concrete implementation of the peace plan for Gaza, Italy will always be there, ready to do its part», he declared.

From diplomacy to operational planning

At the moment, there is still no formal decision on the deployment of contingents, but the issue is already on the table of Western chancelleries.
Italy will be represented by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the Paris summit, the first test for the implementation of the US plan. At that meeting, the future of the Strip, reconstruction, the role of the United Nations, and security measures to ensure political and humanitarian transition will be discussed.

According to Defense sources, any developments on the Italian military contribution will depend on explicit requests from international partners, particularly Washington, and a clear UN mandate.
Meanwhile, the Defense General Staff has already begun internal assessments on which units could be made available for a possible stabilization mission.

Carabinieri and specialized units: the Italian model

Among the options discussed at the interministerial level, the possible deployment of the Carabinieri emerges, a military force with a special organization and extensive experience in post-conflict stabilization.
From Somalia to Lebanon, Iraq to the Balkans, the Corps has built over the years an operational model of reference for local security and the training of police forces in partner countries.

In this context, the Italian participation in the European mission EUBAM Rafah is also included, which assists local authorities in managing the crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Italy, through experts and Carabinieri officers, has been providing technical and training support in this highly sensitive area for years.
A possible expansion of the international mandate could extend this experience, integrating it into a broader international police and territorial control framework.

Tradition and credibility in UN missions

Italy boasts a consolidated tradition of participation in peacekeeping missions. Today, about 7,000 soldiers are deployed in over twenty operations abroad, from Eastern Europe to Africa, from Lebanon to the Red Sea.
The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon, where the Italian contingent is among the main contributors, represents the reference model: a balanced presence between military capabilities and civilian skills, aimed at ensuring security and promoting political dialogue.

It is no coincidence that several international observers see in the UNIFIL experience a useful precedent for the future mission in Gaza.
Rome, on the other hand, has long pushed for a multinational approach under UN auspices, with strong Arab and Mediterranean involvement, capable of ensuring legitimacy and acceptance on the ground.

The issues to be resolved

The possible Italian participation will still have to deal with some underlying variables:

• International mandate: the deployment of Italian armed forces abroad requires a Security Council resolution and a clear legal framework for intervention.
• Security conditions: operations in the Strip involve high risks and require a political agreement between the parties for a ceasefire.
• Compatibility with ongoing commitments: the Italian Armed Forces are already heavily engaged in missions in Lebanon, Iraq, Kosovo, the Red Sea, and the Horn of Africa.
• Parliamentary approval: as provided by law 145/2016 on international missions, each intervention must be reviewed by Parliament.

A commitment consistent with Italian foreign policy

The possible adherence of Italy to the mission for Gaza would fully fit into the strategy of “security diplomacy” pursued by the government.
Crosetto has repeatedly emphasized that Italian participation in international missions is not only a duty towards allies but also a tool for protecting national interests, regional stability, and promoting dialogue.

The presence of Carabinieri and Italian soldiers in a delicate context like the Middle East would strengthen our country's credibility as a bridge between Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world, consolidating a role that Rome has always claimed: contributing to peace through the professionalism of its Armed Forces.