Massive protests erupted across Italy on Monday as tens of thousands took to the streets in a powerful show of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Demonstrators blocked roads and ports, shut down schools, and brought transport systems to a halt in what has become one of Europe’s largest anti-war mobilizations in recent months.
Under the slogan "Let’s Block Everything", grassroots unions organized a 24-hour general strike, condemning what they described as the "inertia of the Italian and EU governments" in the face of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In the port cities of Genoa and Livorno, dockworkers halted operations, refusing to handle shipments they believe support Israel’s war effort. In Rome, more than 20,000 demonstrators gathered outside Termini station, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.”
The northern hub of Milan saw some of the most intense scenes. Organizers estimated around 50,000 people flooded the streets. However, tensions boiled over when a group of masked demonstrators attempted to storm the city’s central train station. Armed with batons and smoke bombs, they clashed with police, who responded with pepper spray.
At least 10 people were arrested in Milan, while around 60 police officers suffered injuries ranging from bruises to more serious trauma, according to national news agency ANSA.
In Bologna, police deployed water cannons to disperse a blockade on a main road, where more than 10,000 protesters had gathered.
The protests come amid rising pressure on the Italian government to join other nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood. UK, Australia, Portugal, and Canada backed the move for Gaza , with France and others.
However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has so far resisted. Speaking to La Repubblica in July, she argued that recognizing a Palestinian state prematurely could be "counterproductive," saying:
“If something that doesn’t exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t.”
Protesters also expressed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international initiative involving over 50 boats aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
A political science student at the Rome demonstration cited a UN commission’s finding of genocide against Israel as a key motivation for joining. Others, including 17-year-old Michelangelo, told AFP they were there to support “a population that is being exterminated.”
The scale and intensity of Monday’s protests have highlighted growing public frustration with Italy’s foreign policy stance — and signaled that solidarity with Gaza remains a galvanizing force across generations and political spectrums.
Whether the Meloni government will respond to the mounting domestic and international calls for a shift in policy remains to be seen.
