Photo credit: Al jazeera
Schools and stations were closed and ports blocked as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in dozens of cities across Italy.
The Guardian reports that they were protesting against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has previously said recognizing the state of Palestine before it was established could be counterproductive. She said, “If something that doesn’t exist is recognized on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t.”
Grassroots unions across Italy called for a 24-hour general strike on Monday in solidarity with the people of Gaza. They said the “inertia of the Italian and EU governments” to address the humanitarian crisis in the territory as reasons for the proposed strike.
Italians poured on to the streets in at least 75 municipalities across the country. Dock workers blocked ports over concerns that Italy was being used as a staging post for the transfer of arms to Israel.
Over 20,000 people gathered outside the Termini train station in Rome waving Palestinian flags and chanting, “free Palestine”.
A protester, Michelangelo, said he had turned up to support “a population that is being exterminated”.
A student, Alessandra, said, “This doesn’t mean we’re anti-Jews or antisemitic, and we’re tired of the media and politicians playing on this misunderstanding. It just means we’re against a government that’s committing genocide while the international community looks the other way.”
Those taking part in the general strike called on the government to suspend commercial and military cooperation with Israel and expressed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international initiative of more than 50 small boats seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Meloni condemned clashes that happened in various places. She said, “Violence and destruction have nothing to do with solidarity and won’t change a thing in the lives of people in Gaza.”
