On Saturday, thousands gathered in Venice to protest against Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza, coinciding with the prestigious Venice Film Festival. The demonstration, organized by left-wing political groups in northeastern Italy, aimed to shift attention from cinematic glamour to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The protest commenced in the early evening, just a few kilometers from the festival venue, where stars such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Emma Stone have graced the red carpet in recent days. Attendees expressed their belief that the entertainment industry should take a stand on the issue. “The entertainment industry has the advantage of being followed a lot, and so they should take a position on Gaza,” said Marco Ciotola, a 31-year-old computer scientist from Venice. “This is not a political situation. This is a human situation.”
Voices for Change
Among the demonstrators was Claudia Poggi, a teacher who held a Palestinian flag and joined chants of “Stop the Genocide!” and “Free Palestine.” Poggi emphasized the urgency of addressing the ongoing violence, stating, “We all know what is happening and it’s not possible that it carries on.”
The plight of Gaza has been a major talking point leading up to the festival, particularly following an open letter calling for the festival to take a clearer stance against the war. The letter, initiated by the group Venice4Palestine, has gathered over 2,000 signatures from film professionals, including directors Guillermo del Toro and Todd Field. According to Venice4Palestine co-founder Fabiomassimo Lozzi, the objective was to bring Gaza and Palestine to the forefront of public discourse during the festival. “We are amazed at the amount of reaction,” he remarked, noting that many in the industry were waiting for someone to speak out.
Calls for Boycotts and Responses
In addition to the open letter, the collective behind it suggested the festival disinvite Israeli actor Gal Gadot and British actor Gerard Butler due to their past support for the Israeli military. The festival has dismissed this request, stating that neither actor is expected to attend. Nevertheless, Lozzi defended the proposed boycott, drawing parallels to historical boycotts during apartheid in South Africa. “I believe that it’s justified,” he asserted.
The conflict has escalated significantly since the October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 individuals, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli sources. In response, Israel has launched a military operation in Gaza, leading to over 63,025 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, as reported by the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, a figure the United Nations considers credible. The UN has also declared a famine in the region, exacerbated by Israel’s blockade affecting nearly two million residents.
The protests at the Venice Film Festival reflect a growing global concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pushing for increased awareness and action from influential figures within the entertainment industry.