Violence erupts in Italian port town as Israeli tourists clash with pro-Palestinian protesters

Police intervened in the Italian port city of Brindisi on Friday as tensions escalated between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli passengers arriving on the Crown Iris, according to Italian news reports and social media footage.

Video footage circulating online shows a group of individuals, reportedly Israeli tourists, performing the Roman salute, shouting profanities, and making a gesture mimicking a throat-cutting motion. The identity of the group has not been independently verified.

Subsequent recordings captured street confrontations between the two sides. In one clip, a woman, believed to be Israeli, responded aggressively when addressed with slogans calling for Palestinian freedom. She also expressed anti-LGBTQ remarks about Gaza and spat at the protesters while issuing threats. The context leading up to these exchanges is not visible in the footage.

Another voice in the videos can be heard accusing the alleged Israeli participants of harming children, adding to the intense and hostile atmosphere of the clashes.

Author: Harper Simmons