Stefania Ascari, the Chairlady of the Five Stars Movement and a prominent supporter of the League of Parliamentarians for Palestine, is embarking on a significant mission to Rafah, accompanied by a team of 15 Italian MPs, academics, and journalists.

“Our target is to represent the part of our country that says stop to the slaughter of civilians," declared Ascari. 

In recent months, there has been a profound shift in Italian sentiment towards the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian cause. This transformation can be attributed to the dedicated efforts of the democratic and progressive members of Parliament, the work of European Institutional Networks, and the pressure exerted by civil society. While the far-right government maintains a pro-Israel stance, a significant portion of the Italian public stands against the occupation and the ongoing tragedy unfolding in the region.

The decision to send this parliamentary mission comes in the wake of a heated debate sparked by the police charges against a pro-Palestine student demonstration in the city of Pisa, Tuscany. The incident resulted in numerous injuries among young individuals aged 15 to 16. This event has only fueled the opposition to the occupation and intensified the collective indignation over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Italian mission is just one of many that European parliamentarians are preparing for in the coming weeks. The growing wave of discontent against the occupation and the worsening conditions in Gaza is spreading throughout the entire European continent.