Italian parliamentarians stage anti-war protest on Egyptian side of Rafah Crossing

Italian parliamentarians are protesting in front of Egypt’s Rafah Crossing with Gaza, calling for aid access and an end to the war in the devastated Palestinian enclave.

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

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.”

The protesters lay 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.

Aid hasn’t entered Gaza since March 1, with Israel arguing that sufficient humanitarian assistance entered the Strip during a six-week ceasefire and that Hamas has been stealing much of that aid. In recent weeks, though, some officials in the Israel Defense Forces have begun warning the political echelon that the enclave is on the brink of starvation.

The protest comes as Israel begins the first stages of its new, major offensive in the Gaza Strip, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.