Hundreds of thousands rally as italian Flotilla volunteers begin repatriation

ROME – A sea of flags, chants and watermelons floods Rome’s city centre on Saturday; over 250,000 people protested, as the 26 Italian members of the Flotilla are scheduled to be repatriated today. 

 The Pro Palestine strikes started on Thursday, after the announcement of arrest for 473 volunteers of the Global Sumud Flotilla by the Israeli Government. 

 Labour Unions, University associations and left-leaning political parties led the way of the protest for three days straight.

 “We are 600 here today and we are here to ask for the end of the genocide; we ask for something simple, which is the ability for states to self-determine,” says Alessandro Bruscella, national coordinator for the University Union – an organisation active in over thirty major cities across Italy.   

 University students have long called for actions to interrupt funding towards Israeli-led programs; “we ask for the Federico II University and its Director Lorito to interrupt partnerships with Med-Or,” says Irene Mele, member of the Students Union from Naples. 

 The concerns of protestants for the members of the Global Sumud Flotilla remain high; “I would like to know how they are doing, nobody is telling us,” says Adriana Villella, demonstrator from Argentina. 

 According to the latest official press release from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “the repatriation to Italy of 26 compatriots members of the Flotilla is underway,” adding that the volunteers “will take a special Turkish Airlines flight scheduled to take off at approximately 2:00 PM (local time, 1:00 PM in Italy) bound for Istanbul.”

 However, “15 compatriots have decided not to sign the expulsion order” states the press release.