Disruption across Italy as tens of thousands protest against Gaza war

"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."

"Italy has so far distanced itself from the coordinated move. The prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has previously said it could be counterproductive to recognise the state of Palestine before it was established. If something that doesn't exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn't, she told the Italian daily La Repubblica in late July."

"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."

Tens of thousands of people marched across dozens of Italian cities, shutting schools, disrupting trains and blocking ports and roads in protests against Israel's offensive in Gaza. Several countries prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN, while Italy kept its distance and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned recognition before a state exists could be counterproductive. Grassroots unions called a 24-hour general strike citing government inertia on Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Protests took place in at least 75 municipalities, with dock workers blocking ports over arms-transfer concerns and more than 20,000 gathering in Rome waving Palestinian flags and chanting.

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