General Strike and Mass Protests Sweep Italy Following Flotilla Interception
Rome: Big marches were taking place in all of Italy’s major cities on Friday while a general strike was causing widespread disruption, especially in the transport and education sectors, after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to take aid to Gaza and arrested the activists on board its boats.
According to Ansa News Agency, the police estimated that over 60,000 participated in the demonstration in the capital, while organizers of the Milan march reported over 100,000 people on the streets. “It’s a beautiful day of mobilization and strike action with a high level of participation which demonstrates that Italy is better than those who govern it,” Elly Schlein, the leader of the opposition, centre-left Democratic Party (PD), said at the Rome demonstration. She emphasized that the strike was for Gaza and to advocate for a free Palestine, highlighting the wave of participation uniting different generations across Italy.
The strike, called by the CGIL and USB trade unions, proceeded despite being declared illegal by Italy’s strike watchdog due to insufficient notice. The CGIL defended the legitimacy of the action and confirmed plans to appeal the watchdog’s decision. Consequently, many Italian schools were closed, numerous trains were cancelled or faced significant delays, and several domestic flights were called off.
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini stated that CGIL leader Maurizio Landini would face consequences for proceeding with the strike, labeling it illegitimate as per the watchdog’s declaration. Salvini warned strikers of potential sanctions both on a personal level and as labor organizations. Rail traffic was further disrupted by protestors occupying tracks in cities like Florence, Catania, and Perugia. Additionally, access to the port of Livorno was blocked, causing long truck lines, and the port of Naples was similarly obstructed.
Spontaneous protests erupted across Italy on Wednesday after Israeli forces boarded the flotilla boats. Clashes occurred between police in riot gear and protestors in Bologna on Thursday, and the Turin demonstration was tarnished by acts of vandalism at the OGR center, scheduled to host meetings featuring prominent figures like John Elkann, Jeff Bezos, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyer on Friday. A young woman who participated in the Bologna protest risks losing sight in one eye after being hit when police fired tear gas.
Students have also been active in the movement, staging sit-ins and occupying schools and university faculties. Affected institutions included Milan’s Universit Statale, the literature faculty at Rome’s La Sapienza University, and the humanities faculty at Turin University.