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Italian journalists put BBC to shame in their remembrance of murdered Palestinian journalists

With FIFA conspicuously still failing to ban Israel despite its genocide in Palestine, Italy had to end the apartheid state’s chances of entering the 2026 World Cup itself. And as it did, its state broadcaster put its British counterpart to shame by openly honouring the hundreds of journalists Israeli occupation forces have killed in the last two years.

BBC shamed for ignoring murdered journalists in Palestine

RAI journalist Alessandro Antinelli explained to viewers why he was wearing a black ribbon, highlighting that more than:

250 journalists killed in the war in Gaza, in what the United Nations commission of inquiry defined as a genocide. They tried to report, but regrettably, it is a fact that they didn’t return home.

Another journalist reporting on the match suggested that, despite all of the international impunity Israel has benefited from, “at least we could beat Israel on the pitch”:

Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza has killed at least 273 journalists and media workers since October 2023. That means it’s taken the life of at least one journalist every three days in the last two years. Scholars say the apartheid state has committed infocide (journocide / mediacide) in Gaza, systematically waging information warfare not only via propaganda efforts but by working to ensure the censorship or murder of Palestinian journalists.

It’s almost unimaginable that the BBC would highlight Israel’s systematic murder of Palestinian journalists in the same way. Instead, the BBC has consistently echoed Israeli propaganda over the last two years while demonstrating racist double standards in their reporting of Palestinian and Israeli suffering.

Italians refused to give Israel an easy ride

Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso had said before the match:

There is nothing worse than what we have seen in the last two years.

A national strike showing solidarity with Palestine had previously gone to Italy’s national training centre to call for the cancellation of the match against Israel. But Italy ‘had to play’ to avoid forfeiting the game, Gattuso stressed. And he added:

it’s very sad to see what’s happening to innocent people, children, it hurts my heart to see all of that.

More than 10,000 people protested peacefully before yesterday’s match, calling for Israel’s suspension from FIFA. There was a heavy police presence, and officers eventually used “water cannons and tear gas” against protesters. With helicopters flying over the city and a number of restrictions in place, one resident insisted that “such a deployment of forces for a match should never take place”.

The demonstration included a massive Palestinian flag and banner saying “Show Israel the red card”:

Show Israel the red card!

FIFA and UEFA have faced significant criticism for their hypocrisy, having suspended Russia but refused to suspend Israel. And FIFA may even seek to punish Italy now in response to some of its fans booing the apartheid state’s national anthem.

For now, Israel’s defeat has only been on the field. But the movement to ban the settler-colonial nation from the sport altogether is growing. And the more people join those efforts, the harder the corrupt officials at the top of the sport will find it to ignore the demands.

Featured image via X

By Ed Sykes

This post was originally published on Canary.