Italian lawmakers call for Gaza ceasefire at Rafah border protest

Italian MPs and MEPs join NGOs at Egypt-Gaza crossing demanding humanitarian aid access and end to Israeli offensive.

Italian and European Parliament members hold placards during a protest at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on May 18, 2025, calling for an end to the war and for humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. (c) AFP/Getty Images

By Clarisa Sendy and Anna Fadiah

A group of Italian lawmakers and European parliamentarians staged a powerful protest on Sunday at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, calling for a ceasefire and demanding immediate humanitarian access to the besieged Palestinian enclave. The demonstration underscored Italy’s growing political and public pressure to halt the ongoing Israeli offensive and allow vital aid to reach civilians in Gaza.

The protest, led by 11 members of the Italian parliament and three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), was joined by several non-governmental organization representatives, including humanitarian advocates and cultural activists. Holding placards that read “Stop genocide now,” “End illegal occupation,” and “Stop arming Israel,” the group assembled at the heavily guarded Rafah crossing — the last lifeline between Gaza and the outside world — to urge a halt to the bloodshed and a renewed focus on international humanitarian law.

A call for Europe to act amid civilian suffering

“Europe is not doing enough, nothing to stop the massacre,” said Cecilia Strada, an Italian MEP and daughter of the late humanitarian surgeon Gino Strada, speaking to AFP. Her remarks echoed the mounting frustration among European lawmakers who have criticized the EU’s passive role in the conflict, especially in the face of a rising civilian death toll.

Protesters laid children’s toys on the ground to symbolize solidarity with the suffering of Gaza’s youngest victims. According to United Nations reports, more than 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military response to Hamas’s October 2023 attack. UN officials now warn that thousands more children face imminent risks of starvation, dehydration, and illness due to the total blockade of humanitarian aid.

Protesters demand weapons embargo and trade halt

The Italian lawmakers did not mince words in their demands. Speaking to the press, Strada called for a complete embargo on arms exports to and from Israel and insisted on an end to trade with Israeli settlements, which remain illegal under international law. “There should be a complete embargo on weapons to and from Israel and a stop to trade with illegal settlements,” she stated.

The demonstration comes amid an intensifying Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which resumed on March 18 after a fragile two-month ceasefire collapsed. Over the weekend, Israel announced an expanded offensive and launched dozens of new airstrikes. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that as of Sunday, 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes in March alone, bringing the total death toll since October to 53,339.

Sounds of war echo through the protest

Walter Massa, president of the Italian nonprofit Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana (ARCI), described the haunting atmosphere during the protest. “We hear the bombs right now,” he said while standing near the Rafah 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.”

His testimony highlighted the raw immediacy of the conflict — a war that continues despite growing condemnation from international humanitarian agencies and global civil society.

UN and Italian officials push for ceasefire

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stern warning on Saturday, expressing alarm over the escalation in violence and urging all parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire. “A permanent ceasefire, now,” he said, reflecting the international body’s increasing urgency in attempting to curtail the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

Italy’s own government, led by the right-wing coalition under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also issued a rare rebuke of Israel’s actions. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on Israel to immediately halt its attacks, saying, “Enough with the attacks. We no longer want to see the Palestinian people suffer.”

This marked a significant shift in rhetoric from Rome, which has historically been a close ally of Israel. Tajani’s remarks suggest growing disillusionment within European capitals over Israel’s strategy in Gaza and the scale of civilian casualties it continues to inflict.

Humanitarian crisis deepens as borders remain closed

Despite global appeals, Israel continues to impose tight restrictions on aid deliveries into Gaza, especially through the Rafah border crossing. The blockade has caused severe shortages of basic necessities — including food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies — leaving millions of Palestinians trapped without access to humanitarian support.

Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of impending famine, especially in northern Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have both called the current situation “catastrophic” and “unprecedented,” with aid convoys routinely denied access by Israeli authorities.

Protest as a symbol of international frustration

Sunday’s demonstration by Italian lawmakers at Rafah was not only a call for immediate action but also a symbol of the growing international outrage over what many now describe as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. The act of physically traveling to the Egyptian border — despite the risks and political sensitivities — highlighted the depth of concern among European politicians and civil society leaders.

While symbolic, the protest added momentum to broader calls for accountability, including efforts by international human rights organizations to investigate potential war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law committed during the conflict.

The path forward: diplomacy or deadlock?

As the death toll continues to climb and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the need for urgent diplomatic solutions becomes more apparent. However, with both sides entrenched and international diplomacy hampered by geopolitical divisions, the path toward peace remains uncertain.

Italian lawmakers’ call for a Gaza ceasefire reflects the growing chorus of voices demanding an end to the violence and a return to diplomacy. Whether their efforts will translate into meaningful international action remains to be seen.

Until then, the voices of protest — from Rafah, from Rome, from capitals across the globe — continue to rise against the deafening sound of bombs falling on Gaza.