The 82nd Venice Film Festival became the site of what organizers called "possibly the largest protest ever seen at a major film event" on Saturday, as thousands marched through the Italian city demanding an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza .

The demonstration reportedly shut down main roads on the Lido as protesters made their way to the festival's central area.

Newsweek reached out to the Venice Film Festival on Saturday via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The massive demonstration marks a significant escalation in efforts to politicize major cultural events over the Gaza conflict, organized by Venice4Palestine and supported by numerous groups and associations.

Venice, traditionally considered less political than other A-list festivals like the Cannes Film Festival

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