Greece’s leftist opposition New Left party on Wednesday placed a banner in solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon in the courtyard of the parliament building overlooking the central Syntagma square.
The banner that was held by five lawmakers read:
“Peace Now! Solidarity with Lebanon, Freedom for Palestine.”
The party also said on Facebook:
“The far-right government of Israel pursues genocide in Gaza with the terrorist attacks and deadly attacks in Lebanon, which open the door to an uncontrolled generalization of the war in the wider region.”
It noted that Israel continues its policy of destruction with weapons supplied by the US and Europe. It also said:
“This is complicity in an ongoing war crime, in support of a government that violates international law without consequences.”
The party accused the government of being an ally of Israel and the prime minister of failing to condemn the atrocities committed by Tel Aviv during his address to the UN General Assembly.
It also condemned another left-wing opposition party, Syriza, for calling for restraint on both sides and the Pasok party for avoiding direct condemnation of Israel. The party also added:
“We all have a responsibility to act. There is no other way than to fight for peace and freedom. There is no other path but outright condemnation and sanctions against the government of Israel.”
Rome police ban pro-Palestinian rallies
Italian police have banned two pro-Palestinian rallies due to be held in Rome on October 5 on public safety grounds, local media reported on Wednesday.
The decision came after a meeting of the Committee for Public Order and National Security chaired by Interior Minister Matteo Pieantedo, state news agency ANSA reported. The demonstrations in Rome were planned two days before the first anniversary of the deadly attacks in Gaza on October 7 last year.
Italian media have also reported in recent weeks that the country’s Jewish community and some right-wing politicians want to postpone the rallies. Numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held in Italy since last October.
However, pro-Palestinian rallies were banned on January 27 due to pressure from the Jewish community as the day coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Despite the ban, thousands of people gathered in Rome to protest both the ban on demonstrations and the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. Since then, nearly 41,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed and some 96,100 injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli offensive has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine. For its actions in Gaza, Israel faces a genocide case in the UN International Court of Justice.
