Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced on Monday "latent and rampant antisemitism" that has intensified since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
During a visit to a synagogue, she condemned "violent" pro-Palestinian protests that took place in Italy over the weekend. While she reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself, she also expressed sadness for those losing their lives in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians had been "victims twice over: first of Hamas' cynicism, which uses them as human shields, and then of Israeli military operations."
On the first anniversary of the Hamas strikes, many officials worldwide insisted that peace must be implemented.
Rome riot police fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds at pro-Palestinian rally banned by Italian authorities #5ottobre pic.twitter.com/NHM9thDbMN
— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) October 5, 2024