Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein said she was taking part to “stop the risk of a full-blown genocide in Palestine”.
“We wanted to be here to reiterate our request for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in relation to what is happening in Gaza, where a line has already been crossed,” added the leader of the opposition, centre-left group.
“There have been in an incredible, unacceptable number of civilian victims since the beginning of the conflict.
“We repeat our call for the release of all the hostages [held by Hamas] and for an end to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, which is affecting the civilian population.
“Hamas is not the Palestinian people and equating the two is not only a mistake, it is also a favour to this organisation, which instead must be isolated, both among the Palestinian people and in the Arab world.”
The 24-kilometre March from Perugia to Assisi has been held every year in September since 1961.
The starting point for Sunday’s extraordinary march, however, was the town of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which is some four kilometres from Assisi.
ANSA
