Tens of thousands of protesters across Italy participated in
strikes, blockades, and rallies following union calls to denounce what they
term the genocide in Gaza. The nationwide mobilisation included workers,
students, and dockworkers who demanded diplomatic sanctions against Israel and
called for breaking ties with the Israeli government.
Widespread Protests Across Italy
Cities across Italy saw mass pro-Palestinian protests,
strikes, and blockades on Monday in response to calls from labor unions to
denounce what they describe as the genocide in Gaza. According to reports by
AFP and the Times of Israel, hundreds of high school students gathered outside
Rome’s Termini train station waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such
as “Free Palestine.” Michelangelo, 17, told AFP he was there to support “a
population that is being exterminated,” while 18-year-old Francesca Tecchia
participated in her first protest, saying, “what is happening (in Gaza) is too
important.” Federica Casino, a 52-year-old worker, joined the protests to mourn
Gaza’s “dead children and destroyed hospitals,” criticising Italy’s political
inaction: “Italy talks but does nothing.”
The protest wave stretched beyond Rome to cities across the
north, centre, and south, including Milan, Turin, Florence, Naples, Bari,
Palermo, and smaller towns nationwide. Dockworkers in key ports such as Genoa
and Livorno blocked operations in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians,
with disruptions also reported in public transportation services in major
cities. AFP journalists noted significant metro and bus service interruptions
in Rome.
National General Strike and Organizers’ Demands
The Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), a grassroots union,
called for a general strike dubbed a “flood sweeping across the country.” The
strike included public and private sectors—transport, education, waste
management, public administration, factories, logistics, commerce, energy,
schools, and universities—as supported by reports from the Palestine Chronicle
and StopWar.org.uk.
The USB described the strike in strong terms, urging
Italians to “block everything” and emphasising the movement as one of the
largest in Italy’s recent history. The union demands include an end to what it
calls the genocide in Gaza, breaking diplomatic and military ties with Israel,
rejecting militarisation and the arms race, and supporting the Global Sumud
Flotilla, which is sailing towards Gaza.
More than 80 rallies and demonstrations were scheduled
nationwide, from Valle d’Aosta in the north to Sicily in the south, including
major cities Rome, Milan, and Bologna, as well as smaller municipalities.
Dockworkers initially launched the mobilisation in response to the worsening
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has since gained widespread support across
Italy.
Italian Government’s Position and International Context
Giorgia Meloni’s government, ideologically aligned with US President Donald Trump, has taken a cautious stance on the Gaza conflict,
refraining from recognising the State of Palestine for now and expressing
reservations about European Union proposed trade sanctions against Israel. As
reported by the Ahram Online, Meloni has voiced “concern” about the Israeli
offensive but Italy remains reluctant to adopt stronger diplomatic measures.
Italy’s moderation contrasts with countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and France, which have declared intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at the current UN General Assembly session.
Humanitarian Toll in Gaza
The ongoing conflict has caused extensive Palestinian civilian casualties. According to data from Gaza's health ministry operating under Hamas, cited by multiple media including the Times of India and Ahram Online, over 65,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, have died in the Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The UN has recognised these figures as reliable.