Nationwide strikes paralyse Italy after Meloni refuses to recognise Palestine

Workers and trade unions across Italy staged large-scale protests and strikes on Monday against Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people, including government employees, poured onto the streets to denounce the genocide and to pressure the Italian government to halt arms shipments to Tel Aviv.

During the demonstrations, entrances to several ports were blocked, clashes erupted with police at railway stations, and disruptions hit public transport as well as school activities.

Protesters declared that Italy must not become a hub for the delivery of weapons and military equipment to Israel. At least 75 municipalities, from Milan to Palermo, witnessed mass mobilizations. In Rome, more than 20,000 people gathered at Termini train station, chanting “Free Palestine” and demanding an end to what they described as genocide in Gaza.

Major cities including Milan, Naples, Genoa, and Trieste also saw tens of thousands of demonstrators, with police reportedly using tear gas in some areas to disperse crowds.

Italy’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is seen as one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe and has repeatedly dismissed calls to recognize a Palestinian state.

In July, Meloni told La Repubblica that recognizing Palestine would be “counterproductive,” arguing: “If something that doesn’t exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t.”