Disruption across Italy as tens of thousands protest against Gaza war

[Right_in_Virginia]

Disruption across Italy as tens of thousands protest against Gaza war
Schools and stations closed and ports blocked in one of Europe’s biggest demonstrations opposing Israel’s offensive
The Guardian/UK, Sep 22, 2025

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in dozens of cities across Italy – shutting schools, disrupting trains and blocking ports and roads – in one of Europe’s largest nationwide protests against Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

The protests came as France and several other countries prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN general assembly on Monday after the UK, Australia, Portugal and Canada did so on Sunday.

Grassroots unions across Italy called for a 24-hour general strike on Monday in solidarity with the people of Gaza, citing reasons that included the “inertia of the Italian and EU governments” to address the humanitarian crisis in the territory.

From Milan to Palermo, Italians poured on to the streets in at least 75 municipalities across the country. In Genoa and Livorno, dock workers blocked ports over concerns that Italy was being used as a staging post for the transfer of arms to Israel.

In Rome, more than 20,000 people gathered outside the Termini train station waving Palestinian flags and chanting “free Palestine”. Michelangelo, 17, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) he had turned up to support “a population that is being exterminated”.

Organisers said 50,000 people had turned out in the northern city of Milan, and police in Bologna put the figure there at more than 10,000.

In the neighbouring Piazza dei Cinquecento, a political science student cited the recently published finding by a UN commission that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza to explain why she and other students were among those protesting.

“This doesn’t mean we’re anti-Jews or antisemitic, and we’re tired of the media and politicians playing on this misunderstanding,” the student, identified only as Alessandra, told La Repubblica. “It just means we’re against a government that’s committing genocide while the international community looks the other way.”


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/22/disruption-across-italy-as-tens-of-thousands-protest-against-gaza-war

[Fishrrman]

"The protests came as France and several other countries prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN general assembly on Monday after the UK, Australia, Portugal and Canada did so on Sunday."

There's really only one way to put the kibosh on this movement.

That's for Israel to come right out and state that gaza and the west bank are part of Israel, now and forever.

And then let the chips fall where they may.

[mountaineer]

I thought they were protesting Italy's non-recognition of the imaginary statehood of Palestine.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Italy to recognise Palestine only if Hamas excluded, all hostages freed
Reuters, Sep 23, 2025



ROME, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Italy will recognise a Palestinian state only if all Israeli hostages are released and the Hamas militant group is excluded from any government role, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday.

"I am not against the recognition of Palestine, but we should set ourselves the right priorities Meloni told reporters, announcing her government would present a motion to parliament on the issue.

Meloni leads a right-wing government that has been one of Israel's strongest allies in the European Union and has refused to follow other G7 nations like Britain, Canada and France in recognizing Palestinian statehood this month.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/italy-recognise-palestine-only-if-hamas-excluded-all-hostages-freed-2025-09-23/