Tens of thousands of Italians staged a nationwide strike on Monday, paralysing transport, ports, and schools in protest against the war in Gaza.
The 24-hour action, called by grassroots and labour unions, quickly escalated into clashes with police in several cities as demonstrators demanded tougher measures from Rome against Israel.
The strike, which organisers said affected more than 75 cities, brought much of Italy to a standstill.
Regional train services were delayed, public transport in major hubs like Rome and Milan was limited, and many schools closed.
At ports including Genoa and Livorno, dockworkers downed tools and blocked access, vowing to disrupt shipments they suspected of carrying military supplies.
Union leaders said the protest was a call for concrete action. “We cannot stand by in silence while bombs fall on civilians,” one organiser declared.
“Our government must push harder for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid.” said another protester.
Others demanded that Italy recognise a Palestinian state and halt arms sales or transfers linked to the conflict.
In Milan, demonstrations turned violent when groups of protesters attempted to storm the central train station.
Witnesses said smoke bombs, bottles, and stones were hurled at riot police. Some protesters, dressed in black and wielding batons, clashed directly with security forces, who responded with pepper spray. Authorities later confirmed at least 10 arrests and reported several officers injured.
In Bologna, protesters blocked highways and major roads, prompting police to use water cannons. In Rome, thousands converged on the Termini station, snarling traffic and forcing cancellations of some train services.
At universities in the capital and beyond, students disrupted lectures, waving Palestinian flags and chanting, “Stop the genocide, stop the war.”
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The impact was also felt at sea. Dockworkers in Genoa and other ports staged coordinated actions to block what they described as the flow of weapons to Israel.
“We refuse to be complicit,” one protester at the port saod. “Every shipment we stop is a statement that we stand with Gaza.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the unrest, insisting solidarity with Gaza should not spill into domestic violence.
“Violence and destruction have nothing to do with solidarity and won’t change a thing in the lives of people in Gaza,” she said.
Interior ministry officials added that while peaceful protest is guaranteed, “violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated.”
Despite the government’s stance, strike leaders vowed to keep up the pressure. “This is only the beginning,” a union spokesperson said. “Until Italy takes a clear stand for peace, we will not stop.”
Internationally, the strike drew mixed reactions. The Palestinian Authority welcomed it as “a powerful show of solidarity from the Italian people,” while Hamas praised dockworkers’ actions as “a heroic stand against complicity in genocide.”
Israel sharply criticised the protests, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson warning: “Blocking ports and attacking police in the name of Gaza only fuels hatred and undermines democratic values. Italy must remain a partner in the fight against terrorism, not a platform for extremist disruption.”
The European Union urged restraint, with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledging that the demonstrations “reflect the deep divisions this war has caused within European societies,”
While stressing Brussels’ commitment to “a just and lasting peace, including the recognition of Palestinian statehood alongside Israel.” The United Nations said the protests were part of a wider global wave of demonstrations demanding an immediate ceasefire.
As night fell, police reported dozens of injuries and widespread property damage across several cities. Yet organisers hailed the strike as a success, saying the scale of disruption proved their message had been heard both at home and abroad.
Crediblenewsng.com
