Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of over 75 Italian cities on Monday, staging one of Europe’s largest coordinated protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The nationwide mobilization disrupted daily life, schools were shuttered, trains were delayed, and ports and roads were blocked, as citizens voiced their outrage and solidarity with Palestinians.
The protests coincided with a diplomatic shift across Europe. France and several other nations prepared to formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly, following similar moves by the UK, Australia, Portugal, and Canada the day before.
Italy, however, has held back. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated her stance that recognizing Palestine prematurely could be misleading. “If something that doesn’t exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t,” she told La Repubblica in July.
In response, grassroots unions called for a 24-hour general strike, condemning what they described as the “inertia” of both Italian and EU governments in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
From Milan to Palermo, citizens rallied in force. Dock workers in Genoa and Livorno halted operations, protesting Italy’s alleged role in facilitating arms transfers to Israel.
READ ALSO: UK Officially Recognises Palestine as a State
Rome saw one of the largest turnouts, with over 20,000 people gathering outside Termini station, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.” Among them was 17-year-old Michelangelo, who told AFP he came to support “a population that is being exterminated.”
Nearby in Piazza dei Cinquecento, political science student Alessandra cited a recent UN commission report accusing Israel of genocide. “This doesn’t mean we’re anti-Jews or antisemitic,” she told La Repubblica.
“We’re tired of the media and politicians playing on this misunderstanding. We’re against a government committing genocide while the international community looks the other way.”
Under the rallying cry Let’s Block Everything, protesters demanded Italy suspend all commercial and military ties with Israel and voiced support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of over 50 boats aiming to breach Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza.
In Milan, organizers reported a turnout of 50,000, while police in Bologna estimated more than 10,000 participants.
However, tensions flared in Milan when a group of masked protesters armed with batons attempted to break into the city’s central train station, prompting a swift police response.
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