General strike in Italy over Gaza solidarity, flotilla attack

• Italy sees nationwide general strike in solidarity with Gaza and against the attack on the “Global Sumud Flotilla.”
• Protests disrupt transport and services, with demonstrators accusing ‘Israel’ of “war crimes” and “complicity” claims against the Italian government.

Italy witnessed a nationwide general strike on Monday, halting key sectors including transport, education, and logistics, in protest against military rearmament policies and in solidarity with Gaza.

The strike was called by trade unions and civil society groups, who also voiced opposition to what they described as the ongoing “genocidal crimes” committed by ‘Israel’ against Palestinians, as well as the reported attack on the “Global Sumud Flotilla” seeking to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

In the capital Rome, demonstrators gathered in a central square, holding banners urging the Italian government to avoid what they called “complicity in crimes” with ‘Israel’.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine,” expressing anger over the interception of the flotilla and broader military policies linked to the war in Gaza.

Similar demonstrations were reported in multiple cities under the slogan “Stop Everything,” driven by unions and grassroots organizations opposing rising living costs and increased military spending.

The strike caused widespread disruption, including delays and suspensions on metro lines in Rome and Naples, as well as interruptions to suburban rail services in Milan. Dockworkers in the port city of Livorno also staged parallel actions.

Authorities reported significant impacts on public transport networks as participation spread across multiple sectors.

Spanish-Palestinian activist Saif Abu Kashk, who had previously been detained during a flotilla-related incident, participated in the Rome protests.

He said some boats were intercepted again during the latest attempt to reach Gaza, adding that participants remained committed despite the risks.

Abu Kashk accused ‘Israel’ of violating international law, including maritime regulations, and said Western governments were enabling continued military actions through arms trade and political support.

Italian demonstrators and activists argued that government priorities were increasingly focused on military spending at the expense of health and education, framing the situation as part of a broader “war economy.”

Protester Andrea Ciccaro said the attack on the flotilla represented a dangerous escalation, while Natalia Mancini described the incident as a “new insult,” arguing it exposed contradictions in Western democratic discourse.

The protest wave comes after reports that ‘Israel’s’ navy intercepted vessels from the “Global Sumud Flotilla” in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, detaining several activists onboard.

The flotilla, consisting of dozens of boats carrying international participants, had sailed from Turkey in an effort to challenge the blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007.

The situation unfolds amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate under sustained military operations and restrictions on aid deliveries.