Lucrezia Ciotti Tensions erupted in Turin during the pro-Palestine march that began at the Einaudi Campus on the evening of October 7th. Protesters were twice stopped by law enforcement: after throwing objects and a flashlight, police intervened with water cannons. The protest, attended by approximately 200 people, concluded with the announcement of a new demonstration for October 10th.
October 10, pro-Palestine marches across Italy: mobilizations from Rome to Turin
The tensions in Turin are part of a national context characterized by increased attention to security during the anniversary. The National Committee for Public Order and Security, chaired at the Ministry of the Interior by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi , had ordered increased security , with particular attention to sites symbolic of Israel and the Jewish community, as well as to demonstrations planned in various cities.
Similar initiatives and controversies have occurred in other cities: in Bologna , for example, a debate on the history of the Palestinian resistance was announced, accompanied by a screening of the film Palestine 36 , despite the university's opposition. In Lecco , however, the police chief banned a pro-Palestine rally and march planned in the city center.
Meanwhile, the promoters of the October 10 mobilizations have announced demonstrations in several Italian cities , from Rome to Milan, from Naples to Turin, calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza, the unblocking of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the occupied territories.
Tensions erupt at the pro-Palestine march in Turin, with objects thrown at police and water cannons.
The Turin demonstration was preceded by a university meeting that had already sparked controversy in the preceding days. The event, organized by the Turin for Gaza coordination group on the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, was dedicated to the Palestinian resistance and the war in the Gaza Strip. The rector of the University of Turin, Cristina Prandi , distanced herself from the initiative, clarifying that it was not an event organized by the University.
Tense moments occurred on the evening of Wednesday, October 7, in Turin , during the pro-Palestine demonstration that started from the Luigi Einaudi Campus . The march, made up of around 200 people , was stopped on two occasions by roadblocks set up by the police, which prevented participants from continuing along the route. As reported by Tgcom24 , the first blockade occurred on Corso Farini : the demonstrators then reversed direction, returning towards Lungo Dora Siena , where they encountered a second police cordon. A lengthy confrontation ensued, lasting around an hour, during which tensions gradually escalated. Some participants threw objects and a flashlight at the officers , while flares were also reportedly used. The police responded with the use of water cannons , used to contain the demonstrators and prevent them from advancing.
At the head of the demonstration was the banner " Against all genocide. Against all war. Resistance now and forever . " Before taking to the streets of the city, the participants had attended a meeting promoted by the Turin for Gaza coordination group , dedicated to the Palestinian situation and entitled " Three years of genocide, three years of resistance . "
During the event, the organizers claimed responsibility for the demonstration on October 7th, stating: " This October 7th, they banned public squares throughout Italy, but this time too, Turin knows which side it is on . " At the end of the protest, a new event was announced for Saturday, October 10th , when a regional demonstration is planned. The activists also announced further initiatives in the coming weeks, including an anti-rearmament rally scheduled for October 24th.