(25 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rome, Italy – 25 September 2025
1. Banner held by protesters reading “Block Everything”
2. Palestinian flags waving as protesters gather in Piazza Flaminio
3. SOUNDBITE (Italian): Giorgina Levi, Protest leader
“We are here once again because Israel attacked the Flotilla and had the arrogance to define us as “terrorists.” Someone who brings humanitarian aide is not a terrorist, someone who breaks a siege is not a criminal. The criminals are the ones who bombard civilians, and starve an entire population. Facing all of this, the Italian government not only is silent but then asks that the aid goes to Cyprus. We are speaking clearly, that aid has to go to Gaza.”
4. Pan of banner reading in Italian, “The Meloni Government is accomplice to genocide. Free Palestine.”
5. Police
6. Sign in Italian “Stop the Genocide”
7. SOUNDBITE (Italian): Michaela Occhipinti, protester
“First of all we are here for the genocide in Gaza, and then, in particular, these days we want the government to take a clear position with respect to all the people, but above all the Italians, but also the rest of the 54 plus nationalities who have embarked on the Samud Flotilla who are risking a lot in this non-violent humanitarian mission.”
8. Various of protesters marching
9. Truck leading protest
10. SOUNDBITE (Italian): Gabriele (no last name given)
“We are here to protest against everything that is happening in Gaza especially against the complicity of the Italian government with everything that is happening is Gaza, also because in Gaza, everyone knows, even three-year-old children, that there is a genocide happening.”
12. Police at protest
13. Protesters marching
14. People blocked in traffic beeping their support in response to protesters
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of protesters marched through the streets of Rome to the Foreign Ministry Thursday evening to protest against the support that the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni is giving to Israel.
The protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up signs saying “Stop the Genocide.”
But the main reason for their protest was the Italian government’s decision to pressure the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of dozens of boats carrying activists with humanitarian aid seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, to leave their aid in Cyprus.
The governments of Spain and Italy have said they are sending navy ships to where a flotilla of dozens of boats is sailing south of Greece.
The Global Sumud Flotilla said Wednesday it was targeted by drones and communications jamming, with several explosions occurring on or near some of the boats.
Some of the vessels were damaged, but no injuries were reported. Organizers say the flotilla includes 52 mostly small vessels carrying activists from dozens of countries, among them 58 Italians, including members of parliament.
They are carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
“We are here once again because Israel attacked the Flotilla and had the arrogance to define us as “terrorists.” Someone who brings humanitarian aide is not a terrorist,” said Giorgina Levi, one of the protest leaders, “Facing all of this, the Italian government not only is silent but then asks that the aid goes to Cyprus. We are speaking clearly, that aid has to go to Gaza.”
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the drone attack on civilian boats as “totally unacceptable” during a parliamentary address Thursday.
AP Video by Trisha Thomas
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