Naples, students plan to occupy the Gaza High School: the principal closes the school.

The doors of the scientific high school “Giuseppe Mercalli” of Napoli They remained closed today. No one was present, no classes. Only locked gates and a circular from the school principal, Daniela Paparella, who decided to suspend all activities "indefinitely" for safety and public order reasons.

The measure came after a group of students expressed their intention to peacefully occupy the school in solidarity with the Palestinian people, following the example of other Neapolitan schools. But the principal, informed of the students' intentions, preferred to preempt the situation: “This educational institution will not open its doors until further notice – we read in the official communication – due to the presence, within the premises of the complex, of individuals external to the school community who have expressed the intention to occupy the structure".

According to the note, these individuals would have taken “threatening attitudes”, so much so as to represent “a potential and serious risk to the safety of students and staff.”

Before the school closed, the principal attempted to mediate with the protesters, suggesting turning the occupation into an open assembly. But the dialogue quickly broke down, without any agreement. “Since yesterday – the students say – We had been ordered to remove the Gaza solidarity banner hanging outside the school. Today we find ourselves with the gates closed and our right to education denied."

The closure of Mercalli rekindles the debate, Napoli And not only that, on the fine line between freedom of expression and public order in schools. Meanwhile, students announce that the protests will continue: "Today's events are an injustice. We will continue to make our voices heard."