Workers in Italy joined a general strike on Friday, not for better pay or conditions, but in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Large crowds took to the streets of multiple cities amid a growing wave of protest across Europe at Israel's bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip. Italy's Interior Ministry reported up to 400,000 protesters came out in total across 29 locations, while trade unions suggest the number was four times that.
Anger intensified this week when the Israeli military boarded a flotilla of boats filled with European politicians and activists, preventing them from delivering food and medical aid to Gaza, where UN experts have confirmed famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. Israel dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt, despite more than 40 Italians being on board.
Italy's hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the general strike, claiming it would not advance the Palestinian cause and would only hinder daily life for Italians, while her deputy Matteo Salvini labeled it illegal and threatened sanctions.
Protesters displayed banners with slogans like 'Stop the Massacre' and 'Hands off the Flotilla!'. Reports of clashes emerged from cities such as Milan and Bologna, where rocks were thrown at police who responded with tear gas. In Pisa, demonstrators briefly halted airport operations, while dockworkers blockaded ports in Naples and protesters pulled barriers onto train tracks in Turin.
In Rome, the main march was peaceful, but participants expressed discontent with the government's inaction regarding Gaza. University instructors and students held sit-ins in various locations, demanding government intervention to resolve the crisis. A tent camp at Termini station proclaimed its location as 'Piazza Gaza'.
Political pressure is mounting on Meloni as opposition leaders highlight the government's failure to adequately respond to the situation in Gaza. Meloni's governmental stance has recently shifted toward a more critical perspective on Israel's actions, acknowledging the plight of innocents in Gaza. The protests signify a resurgence of leftist activism in Italy, with calls for recognition of Palestinian statehood growing louder.
As demonstrations continued, the four Italian politicians who had been detained on the flotilla return home, while over 40 remain in custody. Despite the confiscation of their humanitarian cargo, MEP Benedetta Scuderi believes the flotilla's actions have instilled hope among those affected by the situation in Gaza.
Anger intensified this week when the Israeli military boarded a flotilla of boats filled with European politicians and activists, preventing them from delivering food and medical aid to Gaza, where UN experts have confirmed famine in Gaza City and its surrounding areas. Israel dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt, despite more than 40 Italians being on board.
Italy's hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the general strike, claiming it would not advance the Palestinian cause and would only hinder daily life for Italians, while her deputy Matteo Salvini labeled it illegal and threatened sanctions.
Protesters displayed banners with slogans like 'Stop the Massacre' and 'Hands off the Flotilla!'. Reports of clashes emerged from cities such as Milan and Bologna, where rocks were thrown at police who responded with tear gas. In Pisa, demonstrators briefly halted airport operations, while dockworkers blockaded ports in Naples and protesters pulled barriers onto train tracks in Turin.
In Rome, the main march was peaceful, but participants expressed discontent with the government's inaction regarding Gaza. University instructors and students held sit-ins in various locations, demanding government intervention to resolve the crisis. A tent camp at Termini station proclaimed its location as 'Piazza Gaza'.
Political pressure is mounting on Meloni as opposition leaders highlight the government's failure to adequately respond to the situation in Gaza. Meloni's governmental stance has recently shifted toward a more critical perspective on Israel's actions, acknowledging the plight of innocents in Gaza. The protests signify a resurgence of leftist activism in Italy, with calls for recognition of Palestinian statehood growing louder.
As demonstrations continued, the four Italian politicians who had been detained on the flotilla return home, while over 40 remain in custody. Despite the confiscation of their humanitarian cargo, MEP Benedetta Scuderi believes the flotilla's actions have instilled hope among those affected by the situation in Gaza.
