Pro-Palestinian Protesters Block Jewish Brigade March in Milan

Pro-Palestinian activists blocked a group commemorating the Jewish Brigade during a Liberation Day procession in Milan on April 25, 2026. Approximately 100 protesters intercepted the marchers, leading to a two-hour stalemate before police escorted the Jewish participants away from the rally. The incident occurred during the 81st anniversary of Italy's liberation from Nazism and fascism.

Participants reported that protesters used antisemitic slurs and Holocaust taunts, including chants of Long live Hitler and references to Nazi soap production. These events coincide with a sharp rise in antisemitism in Italy; the Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation noted that incidents in Milan nearly quadrupled between 2022 and 2025.

Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, condemned the violence and intimidation. A dispute emerged regarding the cause of the disruption, as Mayor Beppe Sala and the National Association Partisans of Italy (ANPI) claimed the presence of Israeli flags violated agreements and was inappropriate given the conflict in Gaza. Conversely, Jewish community leaders denied any such ban on flags and accused ANPI of inciting antisemitism.