A synagogue in Bologna, Italy became the target of antisemitic vandalism on Saturday night when protesters spray-painted "Justice Free Gaza" in red on its walls during demonstrations that erupted across multiple Italian cities.
The protests were triggered by recently released footage of a fatal police pursuit from November 2024 that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Ramy Elgaml, an Italian-Egyptian citizen. Elgaml was a passenger on a moped driven by his friend Fares Bouzidi, 22, during a five-mile police chase that ended in tragedy.
According to reports, Bouzidi, who is of Tunisian descent, failed to stop at a police checkpoint. The pursuit ended when the moped crashed into a pole with a police vehicle in pursuit, resulting in Elgaml's death. Bouzidi, who was subsequently arrested for complicity in homicide, claims the police car made contact with the moped, though the newly released video footage remains inconclusive on this point.
The Italian Anti-Racist Coordination, joined by student groups and other organizations, coordinated protests across several major cities including Rome, Milan, Brescia, and Bologna. In Bologna, the situation escalated when demonstrators targeted the local synagogue, defacing it with both pro-Gaza messaging and Elgaml's name.
Israel's Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, strongly condemned the vandalism, describing it as a "serious antisemitic attack" and expressed solidarity with Bologna's Jewish community.
Daniele De Paz, who leads Bologna's Jewish community, criticized city officials for displaying the Palestinian flag at City Hall, arguing this tacitly encouraged attacks against the Jewish community. De Paz called on Mayor Matteo Lepore to remove the flag, stating that "words of solidarity are not enough" and warning of escalating tensions.
The protests turned violent in both Bologna and Rome, resulting in several police officers being injured. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni took to social media Sunday to condemn the unrest, particularly in Rome, where protesters deployed firecrackers and smoke bombs. "It's not possible to use a tragedy to legitimize violence," Meloni stated, expressing solidarity with law enforcement and sending well wishes to injured officers.
The Jewish community had previously voiced concerns about the Palestinian flag at city hall when it was first raised in June, with De Paz arguing then that it was "not a gesture of peace" given the increasingly tense atmosphere.
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