On Monday, Italy saw a surge of protests as a nationwide strike in support of Palestine disrupted much of the country’s operations.
The main events unfolded around significant ports such as Genoa and Livorno, resulting in limited public transport options and school closures.
According to various reports, around 100,000 people gathered in the capital, with about 20,000 congregating at the Rome Central Railway Station. The strike resulted in 12 arrests, with around 60 police officers sustaining injuries.
A statement from the organizers claimed, “Israel is currently executing a long-standing genocide in Gaza, attempting a ‘final solution.'” They emphasized that the strike was called for solidarity with the Palestinian people and to protest against the ongoing war economy.
The union leading the strike has requested the cessation of all relationships with Israel, describing it as an urgent action in support of those suffering in Palestinian territories.
Protests across various cities led to confrontations with police. For instance, in Milan, tensions escalated as some protesters attempted to break into the central station, resulting in police using pepper spray. In Bologna, water cannons were deployed to disperse demonstrators blocking routes.
A member of the Palestinian Student Movement in Rome, Maya Issa, expressed clear demands for sanctions against Israel, stating the need for a complete economic and political embargo, asserting that Israel poses a threat not just to Palestinians but to the global community.
During the events, Walter Montagnoli from the Cub Union remarked that the protests aim to pressure the government to take action against Israel’s actions. “If we don’t stop what Israel is doing, there won’t be meaningful change,” he noted.
In response, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the protests, calling them “outrageous” and highlighting the hypocrisy of those claiming to be pacifists while causing chaos and confrontations with authorities. She warned that such violence would have repercussions for Italian citizens, who would suffer the consequences of the disruptions.
This strike coincided with France’s recent endorsement of recognizing Palestine as a nation, amidst a growing international call to support Palestinian rights. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the necessity for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, stating that now is the time to work towards solutions for a two-state framework.
