by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
MILAN/TEL AVIV (Worthy News) – Questions have been raised about Italian security arrangements after pro-Palestinian protesters physically blocked passengers from boarding a flight to Tel Aviv at Milan’s main airport, forming a human barrier at the gate and delaying the departure for more than two hours.
Jewish and other passengers planning to board Monday’s flight to Israel operated by ITA Airways, Italy’s national airline, said they felt threatened by a group waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans. Several passengers reported hearing antisemitic remarks aimed at those bound for Tel Aviv.
Eyewitness video obtained by Worthy News showed demonstrators obstructing Gate B30 at Milan Malpensa Airport, with frustrated travelers attempting to push through the barrier.
The disruption occurred during the Milan–Rome leg of a connecting journey to Tel Aviv.
Critics called the action “an unacceptable act of harassment,” targeting civilians based on their destination, and said it reflects what they see as a broader pattern of intimidation against Jewish and Israeli travelers. “Once again, those who have chosen to side with these protestors are in bed with a paid campaign backed by countries like Iran and Qatar,” said Samantha Ettus, a U.S. speaker and author, in comments to Worthy News.
Israeli passengers were held for over two hours before the flight eventually departed, multiple sources confirmed.
PASSENGERS DESCRIBE CHAOS AT MALPENSA
“They are detaining us. We’ve been asking to go home for two hours,” a passenger could be heard shouting in footage circulated by the Israeli news portal Mako.
An Israeli passenger, identified only as Miki, amid security concerns, said that after spending a vacation in Italy, he and other travelers were confronted at Malpensa by pro-Palestinian supporters traveling on a nearby flight to Morocco. A group of about 15 people formed a “human chain,” blocking access to the Tel Aviv flight gate and preventing boarding, witnesses said.
“We quickly realized they had probably noticed the sign for the Tel Aviv flight and decided to join together against us,” Miki stressed.
Miki described chaos with pushing and shouting from both sides. He said one man filmed passengers at close range while shouting insults. Miki also alleged a lack of security presence near the gate initially and that attempts by airline staff to separate the groups were unsuccessful.
Eventually, the protesters departed to avoid missing their own flight, allowing the Tel Aviv flight to board. “It was humiliating, and it could have ended much worse,” Miki said. The incident resulted in a delay of more than 2 hours before the flight took off, passengers said.
INCIDENT COMES AMID BROADER ITALY PROTESTS
The airport protest came against the backdrop of widespread pro-Palestinian demonstrations and strikes across Italy in 2025, as many marched to protest the war in Gaza and Italy’s perceived support for Israel.
Large anti-Israel rallies in Rome have drawn hundreds of thousands of participants, and national general strikes — including one in October that unions said involved as many as two million workers — disrupted key services and transit systems.
Cities from Bologna to Naples have seen protests, marches, and occasional clashes with police, with demonstrators calling for an end to military cooperation, border actions, and support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The Milan incident occurred soon after ITA Airways reinstated direct flights between Italy and Tel Aviv.
The carrier resumed its Rome–Tel Aviv route on January 1, 2026, after a suspension earlier in 2025 due to regional security concerns linked to the Gaza war and plans to operate twice-daily service on the route.
Italian airport authorities and police declined to issue an official statement addressing the incident at Malpensa, despite concerns over perceived rising antisemitism in Italy and other European nations.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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