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During a question time session in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani detailed Italy’s humanitarian aid efforts for Palestinians, while the Five Star Movement, a progressive political party, staged a symbolic protest against the government’s stance on the war in Gaza. The protest also called for an end to arms shipments to Israel and demanded the withdrawal of the ambassador, according to Italian media reports.
Five Star members of Parliament (MPs) turned heads by organizing a live “choreography” in the chamber: they dressed in white, red, green, and black according to their seating rows to resemble the Palestinian flag. The lawmakers stood up during a speech by MP Riccardo Ricciardi, who had questioned the government about Italy’s position on recognizing the State of Palestine.
“Today we won’t hold up this flag because you’d tear it from us,” Ricciardi said. “Today, we wear it on our bodies. Because this is no longer just the flag of Palestine—it’s the universal flag of those fighting for humanity. You are guilty of knowing and staying silent, of looking away while a people was being exterminated. You shook the hand of a genocidal leader. You supported, politically and economically, the greatest massacre of this part of the century. And you will forever be guilty of not being human.”
He added, “The very fact that we’re still debating whether this is genocide should be enough. Even the doubt should move your conscience. The reality is, we’re beyond genocide—there’s no word in the dictionary to describe what’s happening in Gaza.”
In response, Minister Ciriani emphasized that Italy is fully engaged in diplomatic and humanitarian efforts regarding Gaza. He announced a new allocation of around $5.45 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food assistance and said Italy is participating in airdrop missions to deliver essential supplies to the Strip, in coordination with the Defense Ministry.
Ciriani highlighted the Food for Gaza initiative, through which the WFP is organizing new convoys aimed at reaching over one million Palestinian civilians. He also noted Italy’s efforts on the healthcare front, including the evacuation and medical transfer of 150 Palestinian children—along with family members—to receive treatment in Italy.
“In total, over 1,000 individuals have been evacuated from Gaza and received in Italy through various channels,” Ciriani said. “Thanks to Italy’s efforts and our ongoing dialogue with both Palestinian and Israeli authorities, we are also preparing to receive 50 more Palestinians, including 20 children who will be treated here.”
The minister concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to “delivering immediate, concrete aid to the people of Gaza and contributing constructively to a future of peace and security across the Middle East.”
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