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A pro-Israel torchlight procession was organized by 'Il Foglio' at the Arco of Tito in Rome on Tuesday in solidarity with Israel. The event saw flags adorned with the Star of David, a symbol of the Israeli flag, and featured the projection of the Israeli flag on the Arch of Titus and other monuments throughout the city. The footage features monuments lit up and the attendees holding various signs and placards bearing messages like 'Tamar, Jonathan, Shahar, Arbel, and Omar. They were killed because they were Jews' and 'She is not a dangerous occupant but an innocent civilian. Enough hatred against Jews,' among others. According to media reports, over a thousand participants, including members of the Jewish community of Rome, ordinary citizens, and political leaders, came together to express their support for Israel. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani delivered a speech during the torchlight vigil, emphasizing the importance of solidarity with Israel. The event comes after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, firing thousands of rockets as militants broke through into Israeli territory as part of what the group described as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’. Israel responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and issued a formal declaration of war on Hamas, warning residents in Gaza to leave their homes. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a full lockdown on Gaza, with electricity, fuel, water and food cut off to the area. Hamas said the operation was due to the long-running Israeli blockade, raids on West Bank cities and other attacks, while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed 'mighty vengeance' on the group. Figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the death toll from retaliatory strikes by the IDF in Gaza has climbed to 950, with more than 5,000 injured. The Israeli military said that at least 1,200 Israelis were killed throughout the conflict. According to the UN, over 263,000 Palestinians have been displaced during the current fighting.
