"Our strongest request is a cease-fire to let governments open a real peace conference, because the new world’s balance can’t be decided by wars,” said leader of the CGIL union Maurizio Landing.
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Tens of thousands of people marched in various Italian cities on Saturday calling for peace in Gaza and Ukraine.
Around 10,000 people marched through the centre of Rome waving a giant peace flag in front of the Colosseum.
The demonstration was organised by the Italian Disarmament Network, the CGIL labour union, several opposition centre-left parties, the war doctors charity Emergency and various minor peace advocacies.
Many among the protesters were very concerned about the high number of civilians killed in the wars both in Gaza and Ukraine.
They urged the Italian government and the international community to revive a peace conference under the leadership of the United Nations.
Other rallies were held in Turin, Milan, Florence, Bari, Palermo and Cagliari with the support of hundreds of groups calling for peace.
The marches occurred amidst escalating violence in the Middle East, as Israel launched overnight attacks against Iran on Saturday morning.
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