Thousands of demonstrators march through Rome, calling for immediate end to war in Gaza

Massive protest in Rome against Gaza war, demanding government action, with over 300,000 participants and international criticism of Israel.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday (June 7, 2025) against the war in Gaza in a protest called by Italy’s main opposition parties, who accuse the right-wing government of being too silent.

Protesters held a banner reading “Stop the massacre, stop complicity!” at the start of the march, which moved peacefully through the center of Rome amid a massive display of rainbow, Palestinian and political party flags.

The protest attracted a diverse crowd from across the country, including many families with children. According to organisers, up to 300,000 people participated in the rally organized by the leftist opposition to ask the government for a clear position on the conflict in Gaza.

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“This is an an enormous popular response to say enough to the massacre of Palestinians and the crimes of (Israeli leader Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government,” the leader of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, told reporters at the march.

“There is another Italy that doesn’t remain silent as the Meloni government does,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Ms Meloni was recently pushed by the opposition to publicly condemn Mr Netanyahu’s offensive in Gaza, but many observers considered her criticism too timid.