Protesters clash with police amid rallies over Israel’s interception of flotilla, Meloni’s stance on war; demonstrators hold anti-Israel banners: ‘Let’s stop Zionism with the resistance’
Οψτ 3, 2025
More than 2 million people across Italy rallied in over 100 cities on Friday for a one-day general strike over Israel’s detention of activists from the Gaza flotilla and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s perceived cautious stance on the conflict, Italy’s largest union said.
Large crowds protested across the country during the strike, blocking roads in many cities.
The Italian demonstrators condemned Rome’s criticism of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which Israel has claimed is linked to Hamas.
More than 2 million people across Italy rallied in over 100 cities on Friday for a one-day general strike over Israel’s detention of activists from the Gaza flotilla and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s perceived cautious stance on the conflict, Italy’s largest union said.
Large crowds protested across the country during the strike, blocking roads in many cities.
The Italian demonstrators condemned Rome’s criticism of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which Israel has claimed is linked to Hamas.
The Israeli Navy intercepted the flotilla on Wednesday and Thursday after organizers rejected the calls to transfer the small amount of aid they had been carrying with them to Israel or international organizations to be taken to the Strip and distributed to civilians.
Many of the Italian protesters also demanded more from Meloni, who has faced criticism for not speaking out more strongly on the situation in Gaza or recognizing the Palestinian state alongside a number of other European nations earlier this month.
Those participating in the Italian strike did not appear to be calling for Hamas to accept the Gaza peace plan, presented earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and agreed to by Israel. The proposed plan would bring an end to the almost two-year war sparked by the devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The CGIL, one of two unions to call the strike, said over two million people across Italy had taken to the streets in over 100 demonstrations.
CGIL head Maurizio Landini noted “the extraordinary and unprecedented participation of young people, who are calling for a future of peace.”
Continue reading at www.timesofisrael.com
Also read
An Italian Intifada: Will Gaza Reshape Italian Politics?
We remind our readers that publication of articles on our site does not mean that we agree with what is written. Our policy is to publish anything which we consider of interest, so as to assist our readers in forming their opinions. Sometimes we even publish articles with which we totally disagree, since we believe it is important for our readers to be informed on as wide a spectrum of views as possible.
