RAFAH/AMSTERDAM: Italian parliamentarians protested on Sunday in front of Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza, calling for aid access and an end to the conflict in the devastated Palestinian territory.

“Europe is not doing enough, nothing to stop the massacre,” Cecilia Strada, an Italian member of the European parliament, said.

The group — including 11 members of the Italian parliament, three MEPs and representatives of NGOs — held signs reading “Stop genocide now”, “End illegal occupation” and “Stop arming Israel”.

“There should be a complete embargo on weapons to and from Israel and a stop to trade with illegal settlements,” Strada said.

The protesters laid toys on the ground in solidarity with Gaza’s children, who the UN warns face “a growing risk of starvation, illness and death” more than two months into a total Israeli aid blockade.

Tens of thousands protest in The Hague against Israeli aggression

At least 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, according to the United Nations. Israel has faced mounting pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies warn of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines.

“We hear the bombs right now,” Walter Massa, president of Italian non-profit organisation Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana, said near the crossing.

“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 border, people continue to die,” he said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Saturday said he was “alarmed” at the escalation and called for “a permanent ceasefire, now”. Italy’s government on Saturday reiterated its calls to Israel to stop attacking Gaza, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying: “Enough with the attacks.” “We no longer want to see the Palestinian people suffer,” Tajani said.

The Hague protest

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through The Hague on Sunday demanding a tougher stance from the Dutch government against Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

Organiser Oxfam Novib said around 100,000 protesters had joined the march, most dressed in red expressing their desire for a “red line” against Israel’s siege on Gaza, where it has cut off medical, food and fuel supplies.

The march also passed the seat of the International Court of Justice, which is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide and last year ordered Israel to halt a military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Oxfam Novib said the Dutch government had ignored what it said were war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, and urged protesters to demand a tougher line.

Dutch Foreign Affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp earlier this month said he wanted the EU to reconsider cooperation agreements it has with Israel. But the Dutch government has so far refrained from harsher criticism, and the leader of the largest party in the government coalition, anti-Muslim populist Geert Wilders, has repeatedly voiced unwavering support for Israel.

Wilders called Sunday’s protesters “confused” and accused them in a post on X of supporting Hamas. Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2025