ROME: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Italy on Monday in mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations, demanding an end to what organizers described as the “genocide in Gaza.” The nationwide day of action saw strikes, marches, and blockades in major cities, with some protests erupting into clashes with police in Milan.
The protests coincided with diplomatic developments at the United Nations, where France and several other countries prepared to formally recognise a Palestinian state. The move followed recognition by the UK, Canada, and Australia on Sunday, ramping up international pressure on Israel amid its military offensive in Gaza.
Despite this wave of recognition, Italy’s hard-right government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reiterated that it will not recognise a Palestinian state at present. The position, closely aligned with that of the United States and Israel, has sparked criticism from Italian activists and unions who accuse Rome of inaction.
In the capital, around 20,000 people gathered at Rome’s main Termini train station, police said. Many of the demonstrators were students carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.” Marchers passing the Colosseum carried a giant banner reading: “Against Genocide. Let’s block everything.” Among them was Michelangelo, a 17-year-old who told AFP he came to support “a population that is being exterminated.” Another participant, 18-year-old Francesca Tecchia, said it was her first time protesting, explaining that “what is happening in Gaza is too important to ignore.”
Federica Casino, 52, joined the students in Rome, saying Italy must stop “standing idle” in the face of “dead children and destroyed hospitals.” Her remarks echoed widespread frustration among demonstrators who argued the government’s rhetoric has not translated into meaningful action.
In Milan, organisers estimated that as many as 50,000 people marched through the city. The protest turned volatile near the central train station, where demonstrators burned a US flag before clashing with riot police. Officers fired tear gas as some protesters threw projectiles and smashed station windows, according to AFP reporters on the scene.
Bologna saw more than 10,000 protesters, local police said, with one group blocking the motorway until they were dispersed by water cannons. Demonstrations also took place in Turin, Florence, Naples, and Sicily, while dock workers in Genoa and Livorno blockaded port entrances to disrupt trade.
The USB union coordinated a 24-hour national strike, calling on the Italian government to cut ties with Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. Public transport was heavily affected, with bus and metro services in Rome disrupted and national train operators warning of delays and cancellations.
Prime Minister Meloni’s government, which is ideologically close to US President Donald Trump, has condemned Israel’s military campaign in Gaza but refused to take stronger measures. Officials insist that Italy has not sold weapons to Israel since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, yet they remain unwilling to recognise Palestine or back European Union proposals for trade sanctions on Israel.
A recent poll by Only Numbers, published in La Stampa, revealed growing discontent among Italians: nearly 64 percent view the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “very serious,” and about 41 percent support official recognition of a Palestinian state.
The protests underscore a widening gap between Italian public opinion and government policy, as pressure mounts on Western governments to address the crisis in Gaza with concrete action rather than symbolic gestures.
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