Rome riot: Police clash with pro‑Palestinian protesters

On Saturday in Rome, clashes with the police occurred during an illegal pro-Palestinian demonstration attended by about 5,000 people. The police explained that the objective was to isolate the most aggressive demonstrators. A flag of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah was seen at the scene.

Prior to the demonstration, which took place despite opposition from the authorities, the centre of Rome was turned into a fortress out of fear of possible violent protests.

The police used tear gas and water cannons against the aggressive participants in the march supporting Palestinians. Officers were attacked with stones, bottles, sticks, and torn-out road signs.

According to the Ansa agency, at least 24 police officers were injured. The agency also reports three injured demonstrators and states that four participants were arrested.

Participants of the rally, among them representatives of the Palestinian community, chanted slogans against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They demanded an end to arms sales to Israel and the cessation of genocide in the Gaza Strip. At Piazzale Ostiense, the starting point of the demonstration, chants of "New Intifada" were heard.

Among the many Palestinian and Lebanese flags, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah banner was also seen.

The demonstration took place two days before the anniversary of a Palestinian Hamas attack on Israel and a week after an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"Celebrating acts of terrorism is unacceptable, especially on the occasion of the anniversary," declared Senator Lucio Malan from the Brothers of Italy party.

Ahead of the anniversary, security was increased at historic sites in the ghettos of Rome and Venice.