Background on the Italian Region and its President
Emilia-Romagna is a prosperous and historically significant region in northern Italy, known for its cultural heritage, economic strength, and progressive politics. The region’s president, Michele de Pascale, is a member of the Democratic Party (Partito Democratico) and has taken a stand against ongoing violence in Gaza.
President de Pascale’s Call to Break Ties with Israel
On Saturday, President de Pascale urged all regional leaders to sever “any form of institutional relationship” with Israel due to the “grave and ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip.”
De Pascale called for regional leaders to:
- Cease all relations with Israeli government representatives, except if those relationships are “openly and clearly motivated by the will to stop the ongoing massacre.”
He emphasized that this stance pertains to the current Israeli government, not the Israeli people or Jewish communities in Emilia-Romagna.
International Context: Benjamin Netanyahu and the ICC
President de Pascale’s decision comes amidst international pressure on Israel. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding to the global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Impact of the Violence
The conflict began on October 7, when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, triggering a war in Gaza. According to an AFP tally based on official data:
- More than 1,200 people have died in Israel, mostly civilians.
- Over 54,321 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, with most being civilians, as per data from the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, which is considered reliable by the UN.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Michele de Pascale? Michele de Pascale is the president of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna and a member of the Democratic Party.
- Why did he sever ties with Israel? De Pascale took this action due to the ongoing violence in Gaza, urging regional leaders to cease relationships with the Israeli government unless they demonstrate a clear commitment to ending the violence.
- What is the international context? The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding to the global pressure on Israel regarding its actions in Gaza.
- What is the impact of the violence? The conflict has resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, and more than 54,321 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza, with the majority being civilians.
