Hundreds of students staged a protest in the Italian city of Milan on Thursday to denounce Israel’s participation in the Winter Olympic Games, which the city is hosting from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22.

The demonstrations coincided with the Olympic torch relay through Milan’s streets, Anadolu Agency reported.

The torch of the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics travelled through the city towards the centre, where it was met by protests at one point along the route.

Hundreds of students gathered outside the campus of the University of Milan, holding banners and Palestinian flags as the torch passed along Francesco Sforza street.

There was no immediate comment from Olympic organisers or local authorities.