ROME, 21 September – Tens of thousands of Italians took to the streets in one of Europe’s largest anti-war demonstrations, with nationwide strikes, port blockades, and clashes with police marking a dramatic show of solidarity with Gaza.
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A Nationwide Strike Over Gaza War
The protests, widely known as the Italy Gaza war protests, were organised by grassroots unions calling for a 24-hour general strike. Demonstrators shut down schools, disrupted train services, and blocked ports in over 75 cities. Dock workers in Genoa and Livorno prevented shipments amid growing concerns that Italy was being used as a transit hub for arms to Israel.
Organisers accused the Italian government and the EU of “inaction” in the face of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Pressure Builds on Meloni Government
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has faced criticism for refusing to recognise Palestinian statehood, a move that several countries – including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia – have already supported at the UN General Assembly. Meloni argued recognition would be “counterproductive” before the establishment of a Palestinian state.
However, protesters accused her government of siding with Israel. “Italy must come to a standstill today,” said Federica Casino, 52, who joined the strike in Rome. “Children are being killed, hospitals are destroyed, and our government only talks but does nothing.”
Mass Demonstrations Across Cities
In Rome, more than 20,000 people gathered at Termini train station, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.” In Milan, organisers claimed 50,000 protesters, while Bologna saw crowds of over 10,000.
Clashes erupted in Milan when masked demonstrators hurled bottles, smoke bombs, and stones at police. Officers responded with pepper spray, leaving more than 60 officers injured and over a dozen protesters arrested.
In Bologna, riot police deployed water cannons to disperse crowds blocking main roads.
A Message of Solidarity with Palestine
Protesters marched under the slogan “Let’s Block Everything”, demanding:
- Suspension of commercial and military ties with Israel
- Support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian effort to break Israel’s naval blockade
- Immediate recognition of a Palestinian state
Many students highlighted the recent UN Commission’s finding of genocide in Gaza, stressing that opposition to Israeli policies should not be mistaken for antisemitism.
Israel’s Intensified Offensive
The protests come as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, with reports of 65,000 Palestinians killed in 23 months, while many more remain buried under rubble. Former Israeli commanders have acknowledged over 200,000 killed or injured since the war began after Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel.
Italy’s Divided Response
While Meloni condemned the violence at protests, she maintained that “violence and destruction have nothing to do with solidarity and won’t change lives in Gaza.” Transport Minister Matteo Salvini dismissed the demonstrations as “far-left unionist mobilisation,” praising Italians who chose to work despite the strike.
Yet, analysts warn that the Italy-Gaza war protests mark a shift in public opinion, with growing calls for Italy to take a stronger stance against Israel’s military campaign and align with the international push to recognise Palestine.
