‘Provoked’ by a World Cup qualifying football match between Italy and Israel—or ‘just’ by their own antisemitism—pro-Gaza activists fought police on Tuesday, October 15th in central Udine.
According to preliminary police estimates, the march—involving more than 5,000 participants—began in the late afternoon in the city center, before the match kicked off at the Friuli Stadium. Previously, the organizers had called on FIFA to ban Israel from all competitions.
The demonstration went ahead despite the fact that Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas had reached a ceasefire agreement, which included the release of the remaining living Israeli hostages and the return of Palestinian prisoners. Protesters carried a huge Palestinian flag and a large red banner bearing the slogan of the demonstration: “Show Israel the red card.”
According to activist Valentina Bianchi
There has been a ceasefire, but not peace. As I wrote on my placard, there can be no peace without justice.
At the end of the march, some demonstrators threw firecrackers at the riot police, who responded to the protesters’ aggression with water cannons and tear gas. Several police officers and journalists were injured in the clashes. One reporter was hit with a stone and had to be taken to hospital.
The city’s leadership also commented on the violent events that took place in the streets. “What happened tonight is unacceptable. Our city strongly condemns the violence that took place in the streets at the end of the demonstration,” said Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni.
The violence follows the wider trend of attempting to link football to anti-Israeli sentiment.
