“Cuba Under Siege” was the title of the panel featuring Abel Prieto, president of the island’s Casa de las Americas; politician and former MEP Luciana Castellina; oncologist and president of mediCuba-Europe Franco Cavalli; and journalist Roberto Livi, *Il Manifesto*’s Havana correspondent.

  For nearly two hours, the panelists shared experiences and views regarding Washington’s “criminal” and “fascist” policy toward the Caribbean nation, the domestic impact of the energy blockade implemented over the last nine months, and the Cuban people’s will to resist.

  “People have not fallen into the trap of thinking this crisis is the government’s fault; today, the majority of the Cuban population is more anti-imperialist than ever,” emphasized Cuba’s former Minister of Culture at the event, which was supported by the Italian Recreational and Cultural Association (ARCI).

  The founder of *Il Manifesto* highlighted the importance of helping the Caribbean island and defending what it represents to the world, as well as the role young Italians must play in this campaign—a cause as vital as opposing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

  For his part, PhD. Franco Cavalli described Tel Aviv’s military attacks on the population of Gaza as genocide, noting that the same term applies to Washington’s actions in blocking the entry of fuel, food, and medicines into Cuba.

  The author of the books *Cuba: The Last Challenge* and *To Cuba, to Cuba! The Italian Footprint on the Island*—who has served as the *Il Manifesto* correspondent in the Caribbean nation since 2010—discussed the country’s current situation and the severe damage caused by U.S. policy.

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