Large protests took place in Rome on Saturday as trade unions and social groups rallied against military actions by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.
Demonstrators said the escalating tensions in the Middle East risk further destabilizing the region and increasing global tensions.
Saturday's rally was one of the largest recent demonstrations in the Italian capital opposing the strikes on Iran. Protesters said European countries should avoid being drawn into new military confrontations and instead push for diplomacy and dialogue to ease regional tensions.
For some, the strikes reflect a broader narrative of heightened tensions around the world, which they hope will be reigned in.
"The genocide in Palestine is still ongoing. Venezuela has been subjected to aggression. And now Iran is being bombed. We oppose dragging the world into war. We demand the right of people in every country to live in peace, and we call for peaceful diplomatic solutions," said Giuliano Granato, spokesperson of Power to the People, a political party in Italy.
Others emphasized that military conflicts may be used by governments as a distraction from the plight of everyday people.
"We are paying the price for these wars. It is workers, retirees and people on fixed incomes who are bearing the cost. We hope the government will take measures to address these economic impacts," said Guido Lutrario, member of the national executive of Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), an Italian labor union.
More than 1,300 people have been killed in Israeli and American strikes, Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday, citing Iranian officials.
Protesters in Rome rally against US, Israeli strikes on Iran
Protesters in Rome rally against US, Israeli strikes on Iran
The United States and Israel have committed the gravest crimes against humanity in Iran over a period of more than 40 days, said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday.
Araghchi made the remark in a meeting with Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who led a delegation to visit Tehran on the day.
Araghchi said at the meeting that the military aggression against Iran by the United States and Israel violates the principles of the UN Charter.
The crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel against the Iranian people - particularly attacks on the country's educational facilities, scientific research centers, historical and cultural sites, hospitals, critical productive infrastructure and residential areas - constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, he said.
These include attacks on an elementary school in Minab in southern Iran, massacre of Iranian children, and the assassination of Iranian leaders, said Araghchi.
Over a period of more than 40 days, the U.S. and Israel have committed the gravest crimes against humanity, he said.
Araghchi called on the international community and relevant international institutions to unequivocally and resolutely condemn the war crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel, and to hand over those responsible for trial and punishment by their home states and international tribunals.
He said that Iran expects the ICRC, other humanitarian organizations and governments of countries around the world to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.
Spoljaric expressed deep regret at the meeting over the casualties among Iranian civilians in the conflict and the attacks by the U. S. and Israel on Iranian civilian targets, especially schools, hospitals and residential areas.
She emphasized the necessity to protect civilians and critical infrastructure and uphold international humanitarian rights in armed conflicts.
Spoljaric said that the recent threats by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, including those to Iranian civilian infrastructure, can be regarded as war crimes.
US, Israel commit gravest crimes against humanity in Iran: Araghchi
