Big crowds, clashes with police on fourth day of Italian pro-Palestinian protests
10/5/2025 10:38:00 AM
Hundreds of thousands of people marched through central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People with banners and flags, chanting "Free Palestine" and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organisers said attracted more than 1 million people, while police put the figure at around 250,000.
"I'm here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilise individually," said Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome. "If we don't all mobilise, then nothing will change."
The protest, in bright sunshine, was peaceful, with students, children, and the elderly attending. It also featured at least one banner hailing Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, and anti-Israeli chants.
Towards the end of the march, around 200 people broke away and clashed with officers in riot gear near the St. Mary Major basilica, police said. Officers responded with tear gas and water cannons.
In later incidents, protesters set fire to a couple of cars and several rubbish bins, and hurled firecrackers at officers, police said, adding they detained 12 suspects and took down the names of 262 people.
People with banners and flags, chanting "Free Palestine" and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organisers said attracted more than 1 million people, while police put the figure at around 250,000.
"I'm here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilise individually," said Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome. "If we don't all mobilise, then nothing will change."
The protest, in bright sunshine, was peaceful, with students, children, and the elderly attending. It also featured at least one banner hailing Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, and anti-Israeli chants.
Towards the end of the march, around 200 people broke away and clashed with officers in riot gear near the St. Mary Major basilica, police said. Officers responded with tear gas and water cannons.
In later incidents, protesters set fire to a couple of cars and several rubbish bins, and hurled firecrackers at officers, police said, adding they detained 12 suspects and took down the names of 262 people.