Over two million people took part in 100 demonstrations across Italy today against Israel's seizure of the international humanitarian flotilla to Gaza, Italian unions reported. The demonstrations coincided with a nationwide strike organized by unions in Italy in support of the Palestinians and against Israeli actions in Gaza, ANSA reported, BTA reported.
In Rome, according to unions, 300,000 people took part in a protest procession, ANSA reports. According to police data, only 80,000 people took part in the procession, Agence France-Presse added.
The strike also affected Italian transport and led to delays and cancellations of trains.
This is the third nationwide strike in the country, after those on September 19 and 22, organized in support of the Palestinians.
Today, protest flash mobs with the participation of thousands of people were held in various cities, from Turin and Trento in the north to Bari and Palermo in the south.
Over 80,000 people took part in the demonstrations in Milan, carrying a huge banner that read: “Liberate Palestine, stop the war machine!“
50,000 people took part in a protest march, in Genoa they were 40,000, and in Naples 10,000 people blocked the port
“The mobilization is incredible, there is a great participation, I believe this is the best response that can be given to the threats of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini against the right to strike“, said Italian opposition leader Ellie Schlein, who participated in the march in Rome.
Yesterday, Meloni condemned the general strike organized by the three leading trade union organizations in the country. She insisted that since the strike mobilization fell on a Friday, it would provide a long weekend for the strikers and stated that “long weekends and revolution do not coexist well“.
In addition, Meloni has repeatedly described the initiative of the Gaza flotilla as risky and irresponsible.
According to Eli Schlein, the flotilla was trying to do what the governments of European countries and the EU should have done, namely to break the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has caused real famine in the enclave.
Today, during the protests, there were also blockades of ring roads in Bologna and Milan, at the port of Livorno, at stations in various places, including Perugia and Cagliari, and in Pisa, protesters invaded the airport runway and caused its temporary closure and delays. flights.