Thousands of workers and students across Italy participated in a general strike on Monday, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Organized by grassroots unions, the 24-hour strike affected both public and private sectors, leading to significant disruptions in public transportation, schools, and ports throughout the country.
In major cities like Rome and Milan, commuters faced long delays on national trains and limited public transport options. Workers conducted sit-ins and rallies at key ports, including Genoa and Livorno, which caused slowdowns in the transit of goods.
The protests drew more than 20,000 individuals to Rome’s central station, where demonstrators voiced their concerns over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Unions and student organizations criticized the “inertia of the Italian and EU governments,” reflecting a growing dissatisfaction with governmental responses to the conflict.
The Italian government, led by conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni, has traditionally aligned closely with Israeli interests within the EU. Recently, however, the administration has adopted a tougher stance on Israeli policies, responding to increased domestic pressure regarding the ongoing war. Despite this shift, Italy is not among the nations, including France, expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly.
The establishment of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza has long been viewed as a necessary step towards resolving the conflict, which has persisted for over a century. The situation intensified following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 65,100 Palestinians, displaced approximately 90 percent of the population, and rendered large swathes of the territory uninhabitable, pushing some areas into famine.
As the strike unfolded, the voices of those advocating for change echoed throughout Italy, revealing a deep concern over humanitarian issues and a call for action from their leaders. The protests not only highlighted the plight of Palestinians but also underscored the growing frustration with the perceived lack of effective governmental response to the crisis.
