Amidst flights arriving from and departing for Tel Aviv, a sit-in organized by the Sardinian Committee for Solidarity with Palestine (Comitato Sardo di Solidarietà per la Palestina) took place at the airport on Thursday, August 13, as has happened on previous Thursdays. Palestinian flags, placards, and chants were displayed and voiced by over a dozen activists who had traveled from various parts of Sardinia, using both private vehicles and trains. Many people at the airport expressed their solidarity, including a Jewish woman from the United States: “In New York, we strongly agree with you! We demonstrate too!” (she even made a point of taking a photo to share with fellow protesters in America) and a family from Morocco, after sharing stories of their visits to the island’s coastal areas and archaeological sites, the Moroccan family offered pastries to all the sit-in participants, having their young daughter hand them out while the mother encouraged her to join in the chant: “Free, free Palestine!” Alongside these shows of solidarity, there were also some signs of dissent: “They’re always there,” says Sandro, “but we continue to demonstrate against the genocide, strongly voicing our opposition to the arrival of Israeli soldiers on our Sardinian soil.” In this context, it is also worth noting the formal complaint filed with the International Criminal Court in The Aja in early June 2026 by the Active Constitution Committee of Sassari (Comitato Costituzione Attiva – Sassari).
Every day, we hear and see news reports on TV and interviews in print or online media… Yet, when a friend tells us about these things, the story takes on a unique depth and vividness. This is the story of Andrea and Mahmoud, a friendship born online that remains vibrant and continues to shape the lives of both men.
On the evening of Thursday the 13th, I met up again with Andrea at the Permanent Sit-in for Palestine (Presidio Stabile per la Palestina) in Piazza Yenne in Cagliari, a space also known as the “Square of Indignation” (standing against all wars, the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and all violence inflicted upon peoples to date). The sit-in aims to show solidarity with all peoples suffering under oppression that undermines the fundamental human rights enshrined in the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights); it is open to any individuals, groups, or movements that uphold these values. During the summer season, it takes place daily from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Andrea is now one of the most dedicated regulars, so I asked him how he first heard about the sit-in…
A: I’ve been taking part in demonstrations in Cagliari since 2023. I was already aware of the cause for Palestine because I know people of Palestinian origin as well as a few journalists. In Piazza Yenne, I recognized some faces I’d seen at other protests, which piqued my curiosity. After a brief chat, I realized this could be a great opportunity to do something for the people suffering due to the current situation in Gaza—and beyond.
And among the people who are suffering, you mentioned your Palestinian friend to me… how did you get in touch?
A: I connected with Mahmoud purely by chance through Instagram. One of his Stories popped up on my feed. He usually talks about his situation and seeks financial help for both his family and his journalism career; he wants to continue his studies in Europe—something that’s impossible in Gaza. …At first, I was skeptical. Later, Mahmoud sent me a video where he greeted me by name and showed me the ruins of his home. It was hard to even tell which part of the house it was, and the street itself had practically merged with the chaotic jumble of piled-up rubble. From that point on, we shared details about our lives, and I realized I was dealing with someone who wasn’t exploiting the situation or hiding anything.
To give an account of his living conditions—shared by the rest of the population in Gaza—Mahmoud sent me this written piece:
«A Testimony of Pain and Displacement: When Life Changes in an Instant
My name is Mahmoud, I am twenty-nine years old, and I bear the responsibility of a large family of eleven. Throughout my life, I have experienced many hardships, but the fear and terror we lived through about a month ago was unlike anything I had ever known or experienced before.
Photo of Mahmoud, next to the yellow stone block, a sign of an inaccessible military zone in front of his house
We woke up terrified to the roar of military vehicles storming our neighborhood, moving yellow stones and marking out front of our house, amidst heavy gunfire and shelling that shook the area. Our neighborhood was declared a “military zone,” and orders were issued for immediate evacuation. We found ourselves leaving everything behind and fleeing for our lives. A Depopulated Area: We fled, and all our neighbors fled too. No one remained; the area where we lived our happiest days was transformed into a barren wasteland shrouded in silence and destruction. The Pain of Displacement: Today, we live in a state of homelessness, without a stable shelter or a place to protect us, and under unbearable hardship. The Pain of War: This war has consumed our bodies, altered the very fabric of our lives and souls, leaving nothing unchanged. Despite the cruelty, displacement, and bitterness, this story remains a testament to the magnitude of the injustice we have endured, and the voice of truth and suffering continues to recount what has befallen us».
What struck me most is the immense resilience shown by Mahmoud and his family in the face of an inhumane situation. In our conversations, Mahmoud is always careful not to burden me; he tries not to complain, or apologizes if he does. He feels bad if others worry about his plight. He manages to remain kind and peaceable, even amidst the total destruction and abuse he faces daily. He finds an invaluable source of strength in remote human connection—something we often overlook in our own safe lives, far removed from horrors that no one should ever have to endure.
Andrea… if you could look out onto new horizons, what would you want to see?
A: I would want Mahmoud to escape the death trap that Gaza has become! I hope that the entire population living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Lebanon regains those freedoms—freedoms we Italians take for granted, yet which are vital to life itself. I hope Europe demonstrates the truly great vision it embodied at its founding—born from the ashes of a war that spared no one—rather than barricading itself behind illusory borders and self-sabotage driven by the interests of a privileged few. I would love to be part of, and witness the growth of, a project that could serve as the nucleus of a cohesive, peaceful world.
Ennio, too who took part in the morning sit-in and is a regular at the encampment in the evenings, shares this sentiment:
E: I no longer want to see Sardinia complicit in preparations for war. People have become accustomed to the idea that we must prepare to fight an enemy, forgetting that we all face the risk of extinction on planet Earth. I would like to see peace break out—first and foremost in people’s consciences!
“Be the change you want to see in the world!” Gandhi said this, and we say it now. Thank you!”
Article featuring contributions from Andrea, Mahmoud, Ennio, and Sandro.
