Press release

Rome, 16 October 2026 – The civil case brought by AssoPacePalestina, A Buon Diritto, Pax Christi, ATTAC, Un Ponte Per, ARCI, ACLI and the Palestinian citizen Hala Abulebdeh to halt arms supplies to Israel and reaffirm respect for the law.

The final stage of the proceedings, in which the associations and the claimant are pitted against Leonardo S.p.A. and the Italian State, is scheduled for 16 October. As on the previous occasion, the hearing did not take place in person. The judge ordered that the hearing be replaced by the electronic submission of written submissions setting out the parties’ claims and conclusions. The judge then has 90 days to deliver the judgement.

The case forms part of civil society’s efforts to hold to account those responsible for contributing to the sale and supply of arms to the State of Israel, which, with total impunity, continues an illegal military occupation – as declared by the International Court of Justice in July 2024 – and is committing extremely serious violations of human rights and international law in Gaza and the West Bank, with the aim of expelling the Palestinian population.

The organising associations are continuing their legal efforts to establish the liability of those involved in supplying arms to Israel and to demand that such supplies cease, in accordance with international law, Law No. 185/90 and the Italian Constitution.