Violent clashes erupted in Bologna as thousands of anti-Israeli protesters targeted police with fireworks and rockets ahead of a EuroLeague basketball match between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv. Riot police responded with gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while demonstrators chanted slogans, waved Palestinian flags, and set fires in the city center. The match proceeded despite controversy and heightened security concerns, reflecting growing international criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and calls for its exclusion from cultural and sporting events. Similar tensions have been seen elsewhere in Europe, with protests disrupting major sporting events and debates over the participation of Israeli teams. The unrest follows deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza, intensifying condemnation and sparking further demonstrations across the continent.