ROME, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Footage of police beating pro-Palestinian students drew broad condemnation in Italy on Friday, with the opposition calling for the interior minister to address parliament over the episode. Student marches were blocked by police in the Tuscan cities of Florence and Pisa, with images of officers vigorously using their truncheons on school-age protesters in Pisa triggering outrage on social media and from politicians.
This is unfortunately not just an incident in Italy. As the moral and political doubt about the crimes of Israel and the complicity of many western governments is diwndling, opression of protests is increasing. We see it in San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin and now in Italy too.
The governments that keep supporting Israels gruesome crimes against the Palestinians revert to often brutal opression of democratic protests. It cannot be what must not be. The lip service of months of “reminding” Israel of its humanitarian obligations is nothing more than that. Weapons and funding are sent to Israel to continue. UNRWA is attacked based on Israeli claims that remain without any evidence presented. And the protestors who call it out are beaten in the streets.