(ANS- Rome)-On 28 July last,  eight Italian organizations engaged in Palestine, including VIS, issued a statement in which they are asking Italian and international society to continue to mobilize, as is happening these days, to express solidarity for the Palestinian population, victims of this massacre. They ask for immediate peace, as requested by the appeal of Pope Francis which was supported by the Rector Major and Mother Reungoat.

"How many children, women and elderly people have yet to die before we use the word massacre? How long will our governments continue to use cold expressions like 'disproportionate use of force', 'rights of defence', 'collateral damage', 'human shields' because they cannot condemn a state that occupies, imprisons and kills an entire people? ". "How long will our governments, who say they are defenders of human rights,  continue to defend a state that bombards children playing football on a beach, striking schools, hospitals and ambulances and razing entire neighbourhoods?".

These are the opening questionsin an alarming communiqué issued by the Italian NGOs engaged in Palestine: VIS, ACS, CISS, COSPE, CRIC, EDUCAID, OVERSEAS and VENTO DI TERRA.  It asserts that in this conflict there are clear instances of war crimes. The statement continues: "We also ask that international bodies and governments mobilize to demand full compliance with International Humanitarian Law and International Law; for an immediate end to the attack. "

In recent days,Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, has asked the Salesian Family to join the call for peace by Pope Francis. Mother Reungoat in a statement expressed her full agreement, saying among other things: “ ‘Stop, please,’ is also our word and our wish. We want to do something concrete as part of our commitment to peace in the world."

Published 31/07/2014