Protesters spray-painted “Justice Free Gaza” in red on a synagogue wall in Bologna, Italy on Saturday night following demonstrations sparked by the death of an Italian-Egyptian man during a police chase on November 23 last year.
Marches took place in several cities, including Rome, Milan, Brescia and Bologna, in memory of Ramy Elgaml, 19, who was riding on the back of a moped driven by his friend Fares Bouzidi during a 5-mile long police pursuit.
The attack on the #Synagogue in #Bologna is a disgraceful act of #antisemitism that cannot be justified. Writing "Justice for #Gaza" on a place of worship is an act of senseless hatred.
— EuroIslam (@IslamEuro) January 13, 2025
Peaceful criticism is part of #democracy; aggression is shameful and criminal. #NoToHate… pic.twitter.com/qTGdbs30VO
Bouzidi, 22, of Tunisian descent, failed to stop at a police roadblock and crashed into a pole with a police car in pursuit, killing Elgaml. Bouzidi, who was arrested for complicity in homicide, claimed the police car touched the moped.
Video of part of the November chase was released a few days ago, prompting the protests organised by the Italian Anti-Racist Coordination and joined by student groups and other associations, Euro News reported.
The report noted that it was not clear from the video if the police car had bumped the moped.
In Bologna, demonstrators stormed the local synagogue and defaced it with Elgaml’s name along with the "free Gaza" slogan.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled decried the graffiti as a "serious antisemitic attack."
"I express my closeness and solidarity to the Jewish community of Bologna, following the attacks committed against the local Synagogue. A serious antisemitic attack, which must be condemned with absolute firmness," he tweeted.
Esprimo la mia vicinanza e solidarietà alla Comunità ebraica di Bologna, a seguito degli attacchi compiuti contro la locale Sinagoga. Un grave attacco antisemita, che deve essere condannato con assoluta fermezza.
— Ambassador Jonathan Peled (@JonathanPeled) January 12, 2025
Daniele De Paz, president of the Jewish community of Bologna, called on the city’s mayor to remove the Palestinian flag, which has been flown from the city hall for several months.
"Mayor Matteo Lepore must remove that flag as a matter of public safety. Words of solidarity are not enough. It is a position that Bologna cannot afford. It is a huge problem that must be overcome because the level of tension is too high," said De Paz, according to Rai News 24.
It comes after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the rioting in Rome.
"Between firecrackers, smoke bombs and assaults, yesterday evening in Rome we witnessed yet another despicable episode of disorder and chaos by the usual troublemakers who took to the streets not to demonstrate for a cause, but out of pure vengeance," she tweeted.
"It's not possible to use a tragedy to legitimise violence. Our solidarity goes to the police, together with well wishes to the officers who were wounded. We are on your side," she added.
Several police officers were injured in Bologna and Rome amid the protests.
