Ten thousands protest Gaza massacre in Rome

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Nov 2023 17:29

The campaign titled "Italy out of all wars" was attended by several political parties and trade unions, including Power to the People, the Communist Refoundation Party, and USB trade union.

Demonstrators show a banner reading in Italian "against apartheid, Free Palestine" during a rally in support of the Palestinian population in Gaza, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Rome in Italy on Sunday to protest against the "massacre of Palestinians in Gaza."

According to several local news sources, the campaign titled "Italy out of all wars" was attended by several political parties and trade unions.

These included Power to the People, the Communist Refoundation Party, and USB ((Unione Sindacale di Base) trade union.

The rally also saw the participation of high school students and their families, who appealed to the international community to halt "Israel's" violent actions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

🇮🇹🇵🇸 | Italia | Unas 1,5 mil personas participaron en Roma en una manifestación en apoyo a Palestina. pic.twitter.com/naIYBTwY69
— Virgineke (@VirginiaSanroma) November 5, 2023

"The figures speak for themselves. Over 10,000 civilians were killed, more than 3000 children slaughtered, and almost half of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, and yet nobody is calling for a ceasefire. All this makes you think there is a deal in place between Israel, the US, and the EU; a deal made in the name of financial strategic interests," Marco Benevento, a rally participant representing the USB Union, told reporters.

"I think economic interests are preeminent over all other interests. That's why the media are so biased when they cover this conflict," another rally participant said.

The demonstrators called for the US, UK, and a significant portion of Europe to be held "wholly complicit in the horrific assault on the Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces."

Rome, my ♥️ out for Palestine #Gaza pic.twitter.com/u2zX4oXB0L
— Abier (@abierkhatib) November 5, 2023

They condemned the media and individuals who exhibit a stance of selective morality regarding the ongoing massacre in Gaza.

Attendees at the demonstration were also urging Italy and the EU to impose an arms embargo on "Israel."

With over €2 billion in military contracts secured by "Israel" in the past decade, EU countries serve as one of "Tel Aviv's" primary suppliers of military systems and equipment, with training being predominantly conducted in the US.

"Today, more than ever, the arms business is prospering and thriving. It goes without saying that Israel is a strategic Western outpost in the Middle East and that Western forces want to preserve it. We need to reverse course and invest more money into our social welfare, not in military procurement," Marta Collot, representing Power to the People Party, told reporters.

Since October 7th, various demonstrations have taken place in support of the Palestinians under siege in different cities and towns throughout Italy.

Despite the media's inconsistent coverage of Israeli war crimes, an increasing number of Italians are starting to acknowledge the harsh reality of the atrocities occurring in the Gaza Strip.

Italy was among the first countries that pledged assistance to "Israel" in the wake of the resistance operation.