Anti-Israeli protesters launched fireworks at police in violent scenes on Friday, as thousands took to the streets of Bologna to demonstrate against an Israeli basketball team ahead of a EuroLeague game in the Italian city.
Footage from Friday’s chaos shows protesters launching rockets at Italian cops, while police fired gas and used water cannons to disperse the crowds.
Protesters were also seen chanting anti-Israel slogans, brandishing Palestinian flags and setting bins on fire in Bologna’s Plaza Maggiore square before the match between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, according to local reports.
The basketball match went ahead on Friday night despite sparking controversy in Italy.
Israel is facing intense international condemnation for its actions in Gaza, with several critics demanding that the country is excluded from international cultural and sporting events.
Rebuke for Israel comes amid its two-year-long campaign against Hamas that has killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza, according to local authorities.
The conflict was prompted by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
The tense scenes on Friday surrounding the basketball game come after pro-Palestinian protests forced Spain’s Vuelta de Espana cycle race to be abandoned at its finale last in September.
Pro-Palestinian supporters shoot fireworks at police during a protest near the Virtus Arena on November 21, 2025 in Bologna, Italy
Demonstrators protested the presence of the Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv team of Israeli for the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 12 match against Virtus Bologna
Riot police clash with pro-Palestinian supporters marching towards the Virtus Arena on November 21, 2025
Demonstrators, who were criticising the participation of an Israeli team, chanted ‘they will not pass’ as they overturned metal barriers and occupied the tour’s cycle route at several points in Madrid as police attempted to push them back.
Two people were arrested and 22 police officers injured as a result, and the race cancelled.
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Star condemned the actions of protesters and of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who expressed ‘admiration for the Spanish people mobilising for just causes like Palestine’.
Elsewhere in Birmingham, a football match between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv became the centre of a political debate after Maccabi fans were banned from attending.
West Midlands Police had deemed the match to be high risk citing violence and hate crimes that took place when the Israeli team played in Amsterdam last season.
The ban attracted widespread criticism including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it was the wrong decision.
Police had expressed concern over potential clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, and six people were arrested before the game.
Around 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered near a children’s playground adjacent to Villa Park’s Trinity Road stand before kick-off.
The basketball match went ahead on Friday night despite sparking controversy in Italy
Riot police use water cannons to disperse pro-Palestinian supporters during a protest near the Virtus Arena
Israel is facing intense international condemnation for its actions in Gaza , with several critics demanding that the country is excluded from international cultural and sporting events
Police officers briefly formed a cordon to prevent a surge of protesters after an Israeli flag was reportedly waved by a passer-by.
Five vehicles were driven past the ground prior to kick-off, carrying electronic billboards showing messages opposing antisemitism.
Earlier this month, organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest were due to vote on whether Israel can participate in the show next year, as calls have mounted for the country to be excluded over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
National broadcasters of the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland and Spain have said they will boycott the 70th song contest in Vienna or consider not taking part if Israel does.
But the vote was called off following developments in the Middle East conflict which saw Israel and Hamas ink a ceasefire deal.
The protests in Italy on Friday also came a day after Israeli strikes in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis killed five people, according to hospital officials.
Rebuke for Israel comes amid its two-year-long campaign against Hamas that has killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza
The conflict was prompted by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages
