Italy is witnessing a growing popular movement in solidarity with Gaza StripAmid wide condemnation of the genocide that the Palestinians have been subjected to by the Israeli occupation for more than 600 days, and under the umbrella of a broad civil solidarity that extends from mosques and Islamic centers to municipal halls and university squares.
With Italy celebrating the Republic last Saturday, Italian activists organized several activities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, and the starvation, destruction and killing they are exposed to, and with interaction from many municipalities and parties, in addition to multiple groups of Italian society.
Among the distinguished activities is the “Night of Democracy” organization, where the candles were shine in a symbolic scene in protest against the “darkness that Gaza is experiencing” as a result of the war, and to express the refusal of collusion and the call to stop all forms of support and cooperation with Israeli occupation.
In statements to Al -Jazeera Net, the heads of Islamic unions, organizations and local officials expressed their vision of the role of Italian society and its responsibilities in facing what is happening in Palestine, stressing that solidarity is not just a symbolic act, but rather a moral, human and cultural duty that defies the sounds of silence and collusion.
genocide
At a time when the massacres in Gaza continue, and amid international silence described by activists and civilian leaders as a “store”, the head of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Italy Yassin told Gram “that what is happening in Gaza is not just a war, but rather it is genocide Documented. ”
Gram sees – in his statements to Al -Jazeera Net – that the continuation of the movement is a matter imposed by morals, humanity and religion, explaining that the Union of Islamic Bodies participates in all events and the field existence is considered “essential” through partnership with unions, universities and civil and Christian associations.
He pointed out that the choice of a national occasion to express solidarity with Gaza represents a deep symbolism, as “the feast embodies the principles of peace based on peace and rejecting war”, and then “he sees that the real celebration really comes not by saying.” Calling on the Italian government to take “courageous positions such as stopping the export of weapons and cutting military cooperation with Israel, in compliance with the principles of international justice.”
As for the response of Italian society, it assures Gram that the interaction with the activities in solidarity with Gaza “is increasing day by day”, with the involvement of universities, municipalities, Christian societies and unions in the protests, stressing the role of Islamic societies in building bridges between religious and civil conscience and turning this interaction into actual pressure on decision makers.
Restriction of freedom of expression
For his part, the mayor of Bologna Matteo Sento notes that the response of the population was “strong and stem from the heart”, because Bologna is an ancient city in the culture of peace and international solidarity.
He stressed – in statements to Al -Jazeera Net – that the municipality was criticized, but it faced transparency and steadfastness on the principles, as “it is the duty of local governments to defend the basic rights of civilians, especially those who are bombed and siege.” Expressing his concern about an attempt to restrict freedom of expression and link solidarity with Gaza sometimes with extremism, warning of external interventions in the Italian debate.
In the municipality of Seto Fioreno in Florence Governorate, thousands of citizens participated in mass demonstrations called by the left forces, and the population of Palestinian flags and white shrouds suspended the cessation of extermination in Gaza. Commenting on this, the mayor, Lorenzo Valky, says that the public support for solidarity initiatives was “very big”.
Despite this, Valky refers to some of the arrows of criticism that do not agree on the intervention of local authorities and municipalities in cases related to external affairs, adding that the police also recently resorted to various methods to restrict the supporters of the Palestinian cause.
In statements to Al -Jazeera Net, the Sesto Fioreno municipality, for example, struck the demands of the Palestinian flag to highlight their identities, which he described as “a method of intimidation”, as well as criticized media misinformation in Italy and attempts to influence public opinion, considering this a threat to democracy.
The speakers unanimously agreed that the challenges are still great with political and economic pressure and official silence, but they expressed their insistence on continuing joint work through Islamic and Arab institutions and communities, popular organization and alliances with civil society.
With the expansion of solidarity with Gaza in Italy, the activities and marches are continuing in many of the arenas of Europe, in response to the genocide, starvation and systematic killing of the Palestinians, in the face of official silence and collusion, where more than 54 thousand martyrs were killed in the Gaza Strip and was injured about 125 thousand, as well as unknown numbers of missing persons under the rubble of their homes, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health in Gaza.