The 101th edition of the cycling race Giro d’Italia has concluded amid protests in Rome.
Pro-Palestine campaigners and many cycling fans have condemned the race organizers for holding the opening stages of the prestigious competition in Israel.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Olympic Committee (POC) blasted Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for sending two cycling teams to participate in the 101st Giro d'Italia cycling competition, which kicked off on Friday in Jerusalem.
Activists created a website, outlining Giro d'Italia's route that passed by ruins of historic Palestine, where more than 500 Palestinian villages and towns were ethnically cleansed during or following the Nakba, when Israel was created in 1948.
The event took place just kilometers away from the Gaza Strip where dozens of unarmed Palestinians have been killed over the past few weeks by Israeli forces while taking part in the Great March of Return protests to demand the right to return to their homes seized by Israel 70 years ago.
About 7,000 Palestinians have also been wounded since the demonstrations began on March 30.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International UK also echoed similar concerns, noting that the race started off right next to East Jerusalem where Palestinians regularly face house demolitions, illegal settlement building and restrictions of movement.
