• Thousands protest at the Venice Film Festival against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
• The demonstration is one of the largest seen at a major film event, organized by Venice4Palestine.
• Protesters demand the film industry use its platform to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Festival authorities declined requests to disinvite actors in support of Israel.
• Over 62,000 Palestinians reported killed amid the conflict according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

A massive protest against Israel's siege of Gaza unfolded on Saturday near the Venice Film Festival, where thousands participated in what organizers termed "possibly the largest protest ever seen at a major film event." The demonstration sought to shift focus from cinematic glamour to urgent humanitarian issues, blocking main roads as activists marched towards the festival's central area, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans like "Free, Free Palestine" and "Stop the Genocide," according to South China Morning Post and TRT World.

The protest was organized by left-wing political groups, with numbers estimated between three to four thousand. Participants criticized the film industry for its silence on the humanitarian situation, arguing it has a significant platform to affect change. Marco Ciotola, a computer scientist from Venice, emphasized, "The entertainment industry has the advantage of being followed a lot, and so they should take a position on Gaza," echoing sentiments shared by demonstrators throughout the day, according to Newsweek and TRT World.

The backdrop of this demonstration coincided with the Venice Film Festival's ongoing events, including the world premiere of "Frankenstein." While festival attendees were engaged in red carpet activities, Venice4Palestine's Fabiomassimo Lozzi noted the aim of the protest was to bring Gaza to the forefront of public discourse, a sentiment echoed by filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro, who signed an open letter calling for the festival to address the crisis more directly, as reported by South China Morning Post and Newsweek.

In a statement to media, festival director Alberto Barbera firmly responded to calls for boycotting artists supportive of Israel, stating, "We will not do that. If they want to be at the festival, they will be here." This position has led to significant discourse surrounding the intersection of art and activism, particularly during humanitarian crises, underscoring a shift in how major cultural events are politicized, as highlighted by various sources including Newsweek and South China Morning Post.