Italian politicians visit Rafah, return with shocking testimonies

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
11 Mar 2024 11:09
4 Shares

Italian lawmakers detail what they witnessed and heard during their visit to Rafah amid "Israel's" continuous aggression and bombardment.

Palestinians walk through the destruction left by "Israel" in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, March 8, 2024. (AP)

After visiting the Rafah border, Italian lawmakers declared the dire need for an international uproar to avert the intensification of the humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah, amid their visit to Egypt earlier in the week to provide the Italian government with testimonies of the tragedy inflicted upon the Palestinians by "Israel".

Stefania Ascari, of the Five Star Movement, said, "Israel's cruel actions in Gaza are based on a clear genocidal intent, refusing to allow water, food, medicine and humanitarian supplies, is equivalent to exterminating an entire population. Palestine must be immediately recognized as a state and a reconstruction plan is urgently needed."

Italian Left Party's Nicola Fratoianni stated, "We saw thousands of trucks waiting at the border with Rafah as famine is ravaging Gaza. Trucks are not allowed to go through because Israel is stopping them. We are certain that a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding."

Angelo Bonelli, of the Greens and Left Alliance, expressed, "We have met Palestinian kids with their legs amputated in an Italian hospital in Cairo as Israel continues to commit crimes against humanity in Gaza. There's only one person who should be held accountable for the situation there; Netanyahu and his regime."

The Italian government has remained sided with "Israel" despite hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrations across the country since October 7.

On Saturday, a new demonstration was organized in Rome by humanitarian organizations, charities and unions, which unanimously called for an immediate end to "Israel's" genocide in Gaza.

They also urged Italian institutions to protect the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and opinion in the country.

An Italian lawmaker, Luigi De Magistris, said, "It is essential to protect and promote dissenting voices; the use of force by our authorities will not stop the course of history. Upholding the rule of law is the only way to ensure peace."

Back in January, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed that Italy had ceased its arms supplies to the Israeli occupation once the war on Gaza began.

According to Sputnik, Tajani made the revelation in response to Elly Schlein, the leader of Italy's opposition Democratic Party, who had previously urged the government to halt weaponry sales to the Middle East, "especially to Israel," to avoid fueling the continuing war.

During an interview for the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale, Tajani said, "It's all blocked. The period when the most weapons were sent to "Israel" was during the premiership of [former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe] Conte."

However, recent data by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) contradict the claims of cessation since it shows that Italy exported to "Israel" "weapons and ammunition" worth €817,536 ($885,964): €233,025 in October and €584,511 in November 2023.

Regardless of the date in October in which the ammunition was sent, it still would have been used during the rest of the month and in November to kill civilians in Gaza.