The Blogs: Antisemitism Concerns Rise During April 25th Protests in Italy

Attempt to raise the Hamas flag. Credit: Redazione AdnKronos

Antisemitism Concerns Rise During April 25th Protests in Italy

On April 25, 2025, Italy’s Liberation Day—a national holiday commemorating the end of Nazi occupation and the Fascist regime in 1945—was marred by a wave of protests across major cities like Rome and Milan. While the day is traditionally a celebration of freedom and resistance, this year’s events were overshadowed by reports of antisemitic rhetoric and symbols, raising alarm among Jewish communities and anti-racism advocates.

Protests and Antisemitic Incidents in Rome and Milan

In Rome, a demonstration organized by pro-Palestinian groups took place near the Porta San Paolo, a historic site tied to Italy’s resistance movement. According to reports from “Agenzia ANSA”, protesters attempted to raise a Hamas flag, a symbol associated with the Palestinian militant group, during the event. The display of the flag, which is often linked to anti-Israel sentiment, was perceived by many as crossing into antisemitic territory, given Hamas’s history of targeting Jewish civilians. The protest’s timing on Liberation Day, a day meant to honor the fight against fascism, was seen as particularly provocative, as the Fascist regime under Mussolini had actively collaborated in the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust.
In Milan, the situation escalated further. An Instagram post by giovanipalestinesi.it captured a large gathering where protesters held banners reading, “Con la Resistenza Palestinese al Fianco del Popoli Che Lottano” (“With the Palestinian Resistance Alongside the Peoples Who Fight”) and waved Palestinian flags. A group of participants was photographed praying on prayer mats in the street, a peaceful act of religious expression. However, tensions rose when reports surfaced, as noted by Il Tempo, of threats against the Jewish Brigade—a historic military unit that fought against the Nazis in Italy during World War II. The headline, “25 aprile, i ProPal alzano la tensione: la minaccia alla Brigata ebraica a Roma,” highlighted concerns that pro-Palestinian rhetoric was veering into antisemitic territory by targeting a symbol of Jewish resistance against fascism.

Historical Context and the Jewish Brigade

The Jewish Brigade, officially the Jewish Infantry Brigade Group, was formed in 1944 under the British Army and played a significant role in the Italian campaign against Nazi forces. Composed primarily of Jewish volunteers from Palestine, the Brigade not only fought against the Axis powers but also helped Holocaust survivors in the aftermath of the war, facilitating their immigration to Palestine. In Italy, the Brigade has long been honored during Liberation Day celebrations as a symbol of Jewish contributions to the fight against fascism.

However, in recent years, their participation in Liberation Day events has become a flashpoint. Pro-Palestinian activists have increasingly targeted the Brigade, accusing it of representing Zionist interests tied to the modern state of Israel. Critics argue that this conflation of the Brigade’s historical role with contemporary geopolitical conflicts fuels antisemitism by holding Jewish communities collectively responsible for Israel’s actions.

Antisemitism Masquerading as Anti-Zionism

Zionists argue that events like the Milan demonstration are indicative of a broader trend in Europe where antisemitism is increasingly expressed through anti-Zionist rhetoric. The banner’s reference to “imperialism and Zionism” aligns with a common antisemitic trope: the portrayal of Jews as a global power controlling world events. This trope, rooted in historical fabrications like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, has been repurposed in modern discourse to target Israel, the only Jewish state, as an imperialist entity.

Moreover, the public prayer, while a religious act, was performed in a highly visible and politically charged context. Zionists contend that this act, combined with the anti-Zionist messaging, sends a message of exclusion to Jewish Italians. It suggests that the public space—on a day meant to celebrate liberation for all Italians—is being claimed by a group whose rhetoric implicitly denies the legitimacy of Jewish self-determination. This is particularly poignant in a country where the Jewish community, numbering around 30,000, has faced historical persecution, including during the fascist era commemorated on April 25.

Moving Forward

The events of April 25, 2025, serve as a stark reminder of the persistent challenge of antisemitism in Italy and beyond. Liberation Day, meant to unite Italians in a shared celebration of freedom, instead exposed deep divisions over identity, history, and geopolitics. Addressing these issues will require a multifaceted approach: stronger education on the history of antisemitism, clearer legal frameworks to combat hate speech, and dialogue between communities to foster understanding.

For Italy’s Jewish community, the day was a painful reminder of their vulnerability, even on a holiday meant to honor their contributions to the nation’s freedom. As one Jewish leader in Rome remarked, “We fought for this day, but we still have to fight to be safe on it.” The path to true liberation, it seems, remains a work in progress.

Conclusion

The pro-Palestinian demonstration in Milan on April 25, 2025, may have been intended as a show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, but from a Zionist perspective, it represents a troubling example of antisemitism in modern Italy. By co-opting a day of national significance to promote a narrative that denies Jewish self-determination and equates Israel with imperialism, the protest perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines the Jewish community’s sense of security. As antisemitism continues to rise across Europe, events like this serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Jewish communities and the importance of confronting hatred in all its forms—whether overt or disguised as political critique.