Confrontations around Israel and Gaza during Italian Liberation Day celebrations – Joop

In Milan, the traditional parade celebrating Liberation Day has turned into a confrontation between supporters of Israel and Palestine. The parade includes a contingent of the Jewish Brigade, a British army unit of 5,000 Jewish volunteers from Palestine that fought in the Second World War to liberate Northern Italy from fascists and Nazis. The Israeli flag was their banner and it is carried annually during the parade, this time also displaying a banner with the text “Two peoples, two states. Left for Israel”. The parade has traditionally been a manifestation of the left. At the event, the mayor spoke out against the fascist tendencies of the current ultra-right government.

The Israeli flag display led to angry reactions from a group of spectators who decorated themselves with Palestinian flags. There were shouts back and forth from ‘Hamas from Gaza’ to ‘Murderers’ towards the parade participants. There were some struggles back and forth, but no real violence occurred, partly due to the actions of the police and volunteers. Police have arrested a Palestine supporter. The violence did not come from participants of a political Palestine protest that took place in the city.

The celebration also led to tensions elsewhere due to the war between Israel and Hamas. In Rome, Jewish groups refrained from the regular celebration because there were also participants who spoke out about the violence against the Palestinian population.