Rome — On Saturday, a large gathering of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Rome escalated into clashes with law enforcement after participants, many waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags, attempted to push past a police cordon towards the city center.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the protest started peacefully in the morning in Rome’s Ostiense neighborhood without official sanction. The situation deteriorated in the afternoon when a faction of the crowd attempted to advance their demonstration beyond designated limits, leading to confrontations with the police. Protesters reportedly threw paper bombs and bottles at officers, prompting the police to respond with water cannons and tear gas, ultimately dispersing the demonstrators.
The incidents resulted in injuries to approximately 30 law enforcement personnel and three protestors, as per reports from local media citing the Interior Ministry sources. This unrest comes amid calls from the demonstrators for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire in the ongoing conflicts involving Palestine.