Rome police ban two Palestine rallies scheduled for Oct. 5

ROME (AA) – The Italian police have banned two Palestine rallies, which were scheduled to take place on October 5 in Rome, due to public security concerns, local media reported.

The decision came after the meeting of the Public Order and National Security Committee, which was chaired by Interior Minister Matteo Pieantedo, state-run ANSA news agency reported.​​​​​​​

The demonstrations in Rome were scheduled two days before the first anniversary of the deadly October 7 attacks in Gaza last year.

In recent weeks, Italian media also reported that the country’s Jewish community and some right-wing politicians wanted the rallies to be postponed.

Numerous demonstrations in support of Palestine have been held in Italy since last October.

However, pro-Palestine rallies were banned on January 27 due to the pressure from the Jewish community as the day coincided with International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Despite the ban, thousands of people gathered in Rome, and protested both the demonstration ban and Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

It has killed nearly 41,500 people, mostly women and children, and injured around 96,100, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory. An ongoing blockade has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.