Overview

• Organized by left‑wing groups and supported by multiple associations, the demonstration drew thousands who waved Palestinian flags, chanted and marched toward the festival area on the Lido.
• Police closed main roads on the Lido during the march, and some outlets reported that protesters were kept from entering the main festival zone for safety reasons.
• Venice4Palestine said its open letter calling for a clearer festival stance on Gaza surpassed 2,000 film‑industry signatures, including directors Guillermo del Toro and Todd Field.
• Activists also urged the festival to disinvite Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler over past support for the Israeli military, a move the festival rejected; Gadot was not expected to attend.
• Festival director Alberto Barbera said invitations to artists would not be withdrawn and expressed sorrow over civilian deaths in Gaza, as coverage cited UN‑recognized famine and a Gaza death toll reported at more than 63,000 since 2023.