Thousands of people protested on Saturday in Venice in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, on the sidelines of the politically charged Venice Film Festival.

The protesters, who responded to a call from organizations in the Venice area, stopped at the festival entrance under heavy security. During the demonstration, signs calling for a boycott of Israel and “an end to the genocide” were raised amid many Palestinian flags.

Many participants chanted “Free Palestine,” a slogan widely used in pro-Palestinian demonstrations worldwide.

Marco Siutola, a 31-year-old software engineer who took part in the protest, said, “The entertainment industry has wide reach, so they must take a stand on Gaza.”

He added, “I don’t mean everyone should talk about genocide, but at least everyone should take a stance, because this is not a political issue, it’s a humanitarian one.”

Claudia Bogi, a teacher carrying the Palestinian flag, said, “We all know what’s happening, and it can’t continue like this.”

On Wednesday, the festival will screen “The Voice of Hind Rajab” in the official competition. The Tunisian director Kawthar Ben Hania tells the story of the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian girl on January 29, 2024, in Gaza along with several family members while trying to escape the bombing. Audio recordings used in the film of a call between Hind Rajab and the Palestinian Red Crescent before her death have deeply moved audiences worldwide. The film’s screening is receiving great attention at the festival.

Many artists have expressed their support for Palestinians at the Venice Festival in recent days, including Moroccan director Maryam Touzani and her husband, director Nabil Ayouch, who carried a black placard reading “Stop the genocide in Gaza” on the red carpet Friday evening.

Maryam Touzani said Saturday, “I think it’s necessary for us all to make our voices heard. I want everyone to be able to express their opinions on this matter and raise their voices.”

On Thursday, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos wore a pin with the Palestinian flag colors during the press conference for his feature film “Bugonia.” The Venice Film Festival’s opening was marked by an open letter written by the group “Venice for Palestine,” founded by ten independent Italian directors, condemning the war in Gaza.

Fabio Massimo Luzi, one of the group’s founders, said, “The goal of the letter was to put Gaza and Palestine at the center of public attention in Venice, and that happened.”

He added, “We are very surprised by the number of reactions,” confirming that the letter gathered two thousand signatures, including from world cinema celebrities such as Ken Loach, Audrey Diwan, and Abel Ferrara.

Venice Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera told AFP that the festival “does not take direct political stances” but expressed sympathy for the tragic situation in Gaza.