Protesters have clashed with police in the Italian city of Vicenza after a demonstration against the presence of Israeli exhibitors at an international jewellery fair, AFP reports.

Police used water cannon against demonstrators who fired smoke bombs and flares after violence erupted after a planned march by hundreds of people, some holding up banners saying “Free Palestine” and “Stop Bombing Gaza”.

More than 1,300 exhibitors from almost 40 countries are showing at the Vicenzaoro fair, which opened on Friday and runs until Tuesday, according to organisers.

A spokesperson told AFP the clashes took place several kilometres away and had no impact on the event while declining to give information on the Israeli presence at the fair.