THE Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) welcomed today Amnesty International’s condemnation of Israel hosting the Giro d’Italia.

The Giro started in Jerusalem today on the backdrop of renewed violence — Amnesty says the Israeli military has killed 35 Palestinians and injured more than 5,500 others since weekly protests started in the Gaza Strip on March 30.

Amnesty say the race is being used by Israel to “sportswash” its reputation, something PACBI agrees with.

PACBI told the Star: “The BDS movement's leadership in Palestine welcomes Amnesty International's reminder to Giro d'Italia cyclists that they will be racing past multiple crime scenes. 

“Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes and even entire villages, expand illegal settlements and implement a shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy against Palestinian men, women and children peacefully protesting in Gaza. 

“By accepting Israel's €10 million bribe, Giro is sports-washing Israel's apartheid. Meanwhile Palestinians are marking 70 years of their dispossession that began with the premeditated ethnic cleansing of approximately 800,000 indigenous Palestinians, Muslims and Christians, from their homeland and the destruction of more than 500 Palestinian villages and towns.”

After the races in Israel this weekend, the action resumes in Sicily, Italy, on today. PACBI says that they will continue to highlight the ongoing atrocities Israel continues to carry out.

“Throughout the race, in Israel and Italy, Palestinians and supporters of our human rights will be shining a spotlight on Israel’s denial of Palestinian human rights and on our non-violent resistance in pursuit of freedom, justice and equality.”

PACBI has produced an online tool showing how the Giro is whitewashing the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, which can be found at mstar.link/Giroboycott.