A group of a dozen or so young men and women burst in shouting “Free Palestine!” at the Valentino Castle in Turin, where the conference of science and space attachés is taking place.
Ministers Antonio Tajani (foreign affairs), Anna Maria Bernini (universities and research), Francesco Lollobrigida (agriculture and food sovereignty) and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin (environment and energy security) had already left the building after attending the morning session of the conference.
Most of the young people - who claimed to be students at the Turin Polytechnic - were blocked before entering the Hall of Honour, where they were expected to resume the event in the afternoon.
Only one young woman managed to enter with a Palestinian flag.
Earlier in the day, there were clashes outside the conference between protesters and police in which several officers and some protesters were hurt.
ANSA