ROME: More than 220 Italian priests have declared their support for the rights of the Palestinian people and called for holding Israel accountable.
The declaration came in a letter addressed to Cardinal Matteo Zuppi under the title “Enough Silence Now,” ahead of the Italian Bishops’ General Assembly scheduled to convene in Rome on Monday.
The letter urged the Italian Bishops’ Conference to adopt a clear position regarding the suffering of the Palestinian people and to raise what it described as a “clear evangelical voice,” particularly following the Israeli assault on the “Global Sumud Flotilla.”
The signatories stressed that they were writing not out of opposition, but out of solidarity with victims and in pursuit of ending aggression and war while promoting peace.
They emphasized that the church cannot equate those inflicting pain and injustice with those subjected to it.
The Global Priests Network Against Genocide had previously called on the Italian Bishops’ Conference to demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire, an end to the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid, in addition to recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people.
The letter also called for halting all forms of military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation with Israel, including divestment measures, sanctions, and the promotion of a culture of peace.
