The historic Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, the capital of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, became the epicenter of a fervent protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Demonstrators, armed with Palestinian flags and impassioned slogans, marched through the city streets, as reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano. The protest, fueled by outrage over the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza—which have reportedly claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives—quickly escalated into violent confrontations with law enforcement. Police deployed water cannons and charged at the protesters, who retaliated by hurling firecrackers, stones, and bottles. The streets between Via Lame, Via Marconi, Ugo Bassi, and Piazza Malpighi transformed into chaotic battlegrounds, with makeshift barricades intensifying the conflict. The clashes left eight police officers injured and 15 demonstrators under investigation. Meanwhile, the city center remained tense late into the night, with a heavy police presence working to restore order and prevent further escalation. The protest coincided with a scheduled Euroleague basketball game at the Paladozza sports center, where authorities had stationed a significant police force to block demonstrators from reaching the venue.
