People stand outside of the La Scala opera house on the day of the season opening of La Scala theater in Milan, Italy, Dec. 7, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Milan’s famed La Scala opera house has fired one of its ushers after she shouted an anti-Israel slogan at a gala event attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier this month, two trade unions said on Thursday.

The woman shouted “Free Palestine” as Meloni was taking her seat in the Royal Box at a May 4 concert in honor of the Asian Development Bank meeting in Milan, the theater’s trade unions said. Contacted by Reuters, La Scala had no immediate comment.

“In the dismissal order, signed by superintendent Fortunato Ortombina, it is emphasized that she betrayed trust by disobeying service orders, but we believe that she listened to her conscience,” the CUB union said in a statement.

“We will deploy all trade union actions to defend this brave girl who has our utmost solidarity,” CUB added.

Italy’s government has been a vocal supporter of Israel, but its foreign minister said on Wednesday Israel’s continued military campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip had become unacceptable and had to stop immediately.

Israel launched its campaign on the Palestinian enclave in response to the devastating Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza.

In Italy, opposition parties are planning a rally on June 7 calling for an end to the war in Gaza, while unions at La Scala have asked for a banner to be put up before performances on June 6 and 11 saying “Ceasefire, stop the massacres.”