Ban Rome’s October pro-Palestinian march! It glorifies the massacre of Israelis

The call for immediate intervention to block the pro-Palestinian demonstration scheduled for October 5 in Rome could not be more urgent. As the anniversary of the brutal October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel approaches, the idea of hosting such an event not only desecrates the memory of some 1,200 innocent Israeli victims — many of whom were children — but also poses a severe risk to law and order.

Domenico Pianese, Secretary-General of the Coisp Police Union, emphasized the gravity of the situation in his appeal to the Italian Home Secretary. He warned that allowing the event to proceed would not only send the wrong message — an implicit celebration of a massacre — but would also put law enforcement in an almost untenable position. The potential for violent elements infiltrating the protest is “extremely high,” Pianese noted, and any resulting disorder would endanger both the public and the police officers tasked with maintaining order.

At its core, this issue transcends the right to protest. While freedom of assembly is a cornerstone of democratic societies, using it to glorify acts of terrorism — especially one as heinous as the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians—is simply unacceptable. What is being planned is not just a pro-Palestinian march, but a gathering that threatens to transform into a dangerous flashpoint of violence and division, undermining Italy’s commitment to peace and safety.

The Palestinian leadership behind the demonstration has shown open defiance. Shokri Heoub, president of the Democratic Arab-Palestinian Union in Italy, criticized the government for considering a ban, labeling it an “attack on the Italian Constitution.” This combative rhetoric dismisses the real concern at hand — the glorification of an atrocity that targeted civilians.

Heoub’s language, invoking “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freedom, and liberation,” conflates the cause of alleged Palestinian rights with the justification of barbarism. This distorted narrative sidesteps the fact that celebrating or even condoning mass violence not only tarnishes the cause but threatens to ignite further unrest in an already volatile climate.

There is more to the October 5 march. Falling during the Ten Days of Teshuva (Repentance)— the sacred period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in which the Jewish community engages in deep reflection, repentance, and prayer — the march is timed to offend.

The Aseret Yemei Teshuva is a time when Jews around the world seek forgiveness and spiritual renewal. It is a solemn and sacred period meant for introspection, healing, and the mending of relationships, both with fellow human beings and with G-d. By scheduling this demonstration during such a meaningful time, the organizers are not only stoking political tensions, but also showing a profound disregard for the sensitivities of the Jewish people.

The timing appears more than coincidental; it feels designed to provoke and offend. At a moment when Jews are immersed in a spiritual journey focused on peace and reconciliation, this march threatens to glorify violence and deepen divisions, rubbing salt into the wounds of a community already grappling with the painful memory of civilian massacres. It’s not simply a protest — it’s an affront, timed to insult and agitate during one of the holiest times of the Jewish calendar.

This moment calls for clear-headed leadership from the Home Office. As Pianese stated, preventing the possibility of violence is the paramount responsibility of law enforcement and the government. Allowing this demonstration to proceed risks turning Rome into a battlefield — a setting for the glorification of extremist violence, rather than a platform for legitimate political discourse.

Italy must not host a stage for hate. Banning the October 5 march would make it clear: it is a choice of peace over provocation and a choice of life over violence.