Bologna town hall in Italy raises Palestinian flag

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Bologna town hall in Italy ​​​​​​​ raised the Palestinian flag on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the onslaught on the Gaza Strip, according to state-run ANSA news agency.

"As mayor of a town historically campaigning for peace, non violence and safeguarding human rights, it is duty-bound for me to take a stance and to act to ensure the utmost social cohesion possible in our city," ANSA quotes Matteo Lepore. "That's why we'll fly the Palestinian flag alongside a banner calling for a ceasefire. We take sides in favour of the victims and human rights, once more. We cannot and will not stay in silence.”

He said Bologna would fly the Israeli one too if and when Tel Aviv stops its offensive in Gaza.

Israel has launched a brutal onslaught on Gaza since Oct. 7, following a Hamas attack, killing more than 36,171 victims and injuring at least 81,420 others.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli offensive, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of "genocide" at the International Court of Justice, which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the assault before it was invaded on May 6.