Italian and European parliament members hold placards during a protest in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling for an end to the Israeli war and for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2025. AFP
"Europe is not doing enough, nothing to stop the massacre," Cecilia Strada, an Italian member of the European parliament, told AFP.
The group -- including 11 members of the Italian parliament, three MEPs and representatives of NGOs -- held signs reading "Stop genocide now", "End illegal occupation" and "Stop arming Israel".
"There should be a complete embargo on weapons to and from Israel and a stop to trade with illegal settlements," Strada said.
The protesters laid toys on the ground in solidarity with Gaza's children, who the UN warns face "a growing risk of starvation, illness and death" more than two months into a total Israeli aid blockade.
At least 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its war in October 2023, according to the United Nations.
Israel has faced mounting pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies warn of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines.
It resumed its war on March 18, ending a two-month truce brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US.
On Saturday, Israel announced an expanded military campaign, killing dozens of people in new strikes.
"We hear the bombs right now," Walter Massa, president of Italian non-profit organisation Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana, told AFP near the crossing.
"The Israeli army continues to do what it believes is right in the face of an international community that does not intervene, and in Gaza, beyond the Rafah crossing border, people continue to die," he said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday said he was "alarmed" at the escalation and called for "a permanent ceasefire, now".
Italy's government on Saturday reiterated its calls to Israel to stop attacking Gaza, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying: "Enough with the attacks."
"We no longer want to see the Palestinian people suffer," Tajani said.
Israel has killed 3,193 Palestinians since it resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,339.
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