By Sama Marwan,
Rafah, Egypt – A group of Italian parliamentarians staged a protest today, Sunday, at the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, demanding immediate aid access and an end to the war in the devastated Palestinian territory. The demonstration underscored growing international pressure on Israel regarding its military campaign and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Cecilia Strada, an Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP), told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that “Europe is not doing enough, nothing to stop the massacre in the Gaza Strip.” Her statement highlighted the sentiment among the protesting lawmakers that stronger action is needed from European bodies.
The delegation included 11 members of the Italian Parliament, three MEPs, and representatives from various non-governmental organizations. They carried signs with powerful messages such as “Stop genocide now,” “End illegal occupation,” and “Stop arming Israel.”
Strada further emphasized the need for decisive action: “There should be a complete embargo on weapons to and from Israel, and a stop to trade with illegal settlements.” This call for an arms embargo reflects increasing demands from international bodies and human rights organizations for a halt to military aid to Israel.
In a poignant gesture of solidarity with Gaza’s children, the protesters laid toys on the ground. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that children in Gaza face a “growing risk of starvation, illness, and death” due to the more than two-month-long comprehensive Israeli aid blockade. According to the UN, at least 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Israel is facing mounting international pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies continue to report critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel, and medicines within the enclave.
The protest comes amidst escalating military operations. On Saturday, Israel announced an expanded military campaign, which resulted in dozens more casualties from new strikes.
Walter Massa, president of the Italian non-profit organization “Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana,” speaking to AFP near the crossing, stated, “We hear the bombs right now.” He added, “The Israeli army continues to do what it believes is right in the face of an international community that does not intervene, and in Gaza, beyond the Rafah crossing,1 people continue to die.”
This protest by Italian lawmakers underscores a growing global outcry for humanitarian access and a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
