Rome and Milan hang white sheets from balconies to represent burial shrouds of Palestinian civilians.The municipal administrations of towns and cities across Italy adhered to a nationwide campaign on Saturday to remember the innocent victims of Israel's war on Gaza.Titled '50,000 shrouds for Gaza', the initiative was launched by a group of Italian academics and featured the display of white sheets on balconies and windows across the country. The administration of the capital, led by mayor Roberto Gualtieri, hung a white sheet from the balcony of city hall, describing it as "a symbol of mourning and profound solidarity in the face of a humanitarian tragedy that worsens every day." In a statement, the city offered its solidarity to "the innocent victims of Gaza and reaffirm[ed] its commitment to peace, the protection of human rights and the dignity of every person", adding: "A ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid, the release of hostages and the relaunch of a political process that will finally lead to a just and lasting peace, based on the principle of two peoples and two States, are urgently needed". Milan also joined the campaign, displaying a white sheet from Palazzo Marino, calling for an end to the bombings and for food and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza. "What Netanyahu is doing in Gaza is intolerable and all our consciences must rebel. Everyone must do their part, we will try to do ours" - Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala stated - "It is not just a political issue but it is truly unthinkable that each of us does not try to do something about what is happening in the world and in Gaza." Florence adhered to the initiative too, displaying a white sheet from Palazzo Vecchio to "remember the civilian victims of the war", the city's mayor Sara Funaro wrote on Instagram. "A symbolic gesture to ask for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, the release of hostages and a just and lasting peace", Funaro wrote, adding that "the wicked actions of the Netanyahu government cannot leave anyone indifferent. Our city will always be on the side of peace, rights, human dignity." Also joining the campaign was the southern city of Bari whose mayor Vito Leccese stated: “The horror that is taking place in Gaza is there for all to see, it is a genocide, and it is unacceptable. The time has come to take a stand so that the systematic massacre of civilians ends and the rules of international law are respected.” Over the weekend, more than 90 lorry loads of humanitarian aid, including flour, baby food and medical equipment, were collected by UN teams inside the Gaza Strip, three days after Israel eased an 11-week-long blockade. Cindy McCain, executive director of the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP), on Sunday described the number of aid trucks being allowed into Gaza as a "drop in the bucket as to what's needed" to stave off potential famine in the territory. Last week Pope Leo XIV appealed for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, calling for an end to hostilities "whose heartbreaking price is being paid by the children, elderly, and the sick", describing the situation in the Palestinian enclave as "increasingly worrying and painful". Photo ANSA

The municipal administrations of towns and cities across Italy adhered to a nationwide campaign on Saturday to remember the innocent victims of Israel's war on Gaza. Titled '50,000 shrouds for Gaza', the initiative was launched by a group of Italian academics and featured the display of white sheets on balconies and windows across the country. The administration of the capital, led by mayor Roberto Gualtieri, hung a white sheet from the balcony of city hall, describing it as "a symbol of mourning and profound solidarity in the face of a humanitarian tragedy that worsens every day." In a statement, the city offered its solidarity to "the innocent victims of Gaza and reaffirm[ed] its commitment to peace, the protection of human rights and the dignity of every person", adding: "A ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid, the release of hostages and the relaunch of a political process that will finally lead to a just and lasting peace, based on the principle of two peoples and two States, are urgently needed". Milan also , displaying a white sheet from Palazzo Marino, calling for an end to the bombings and for food and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza. "What Netanyahu is doing in Gaza is intolerable and all our consciences must rebel. Everyone must do their part, we will try to do ours" - Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala stated - "It is not just a political issue but it is truly unthinkable that each of us does not try to do something about what is happening in the world and in Gaza." Florence adhered to the initiative too, displaying a white sheet from Palazzo Vecchio to "remember the civilian victims of the war", the city's mayor wrote on Instagram. "A symbolic gesture to ask for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, the release of hostages and a just and lasting peace", Funaro wrote, adding that "the wicked actions of the Netanyahu government cannot leave anyone indifferent. Our city will always be on the side of peace, rights, human dignity." Also joining the campaign was the southern city of Bari whose mayor : “The horror that is taking place in Gaza is there for all to see, it is a genocide, and it is unacceptable. The time has come to take a stand so that the systematic massacre of civilians ends and the rules of international law are respected.” Over the weekend, more than 90 lorry loads of humanitarian aid, including flour, baby food and medical equipment, were collected by UN teams inside the Gaza Strip, three days after Israel eased an 11-week-long blockade. , executive director of the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP), on Sunday described the number of aid trucks being allowed into Gaza as a "drop in the bucket as to what's needed" to stave off potential famine in the territory. Last week for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, calling for an end to hostilities "whose heartbreaking price is being paid by the children, elderly, and the sick", describing the situation in the Palestinian enclave as "increasingly worrying and painful". Photo ANSA