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September 2025 Italian general strike for Gaza

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General strike for Gaza
September 2025 Italian general strike
Part of the Gaza war protests
From top: Giovani Comunisti/e (Young Communists) at the general strike for Gaza in Ancona, Marche; Piazza Duca d'Aosta in Milan, facing Milano Centrale railway station, crowded with people before the riots (credits: Chronocol Media); protesters climb the metro escalators to enter the main hall of Milano Centrale station, where police officers await them at the top (credits: Chronocol Media)
Date19–25 September 2025
Location
over 75 municipalities across Italy,[1][2] San Marino and Ticino, Switzerland
Caused byGaza genocide, famine and Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
GoalsStop arms shipments from Italian ports to Israel
MethodsStrike actions
StatusOngoing
Parties
  • USB
  • USI
  • CUB
  • SGB
  • ADL
  • CGIL
  • Collettivo San Marino per la Palestina
  • Coordinamento Unitario a Sostegno della Palestina
Lead figures

Collective leadership

Number
100,000[2]~500,000[3]
Casualties
Injuriesat least 60 (in Milan)
Arrestedat least 18 (in Milan and Bologna)

On 22 September 2025, a 24-hour general strike called by grassroots unions Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Confederazione Unitaria di Base [it] (CUB), Sindacato Generale di Base (SGB), Associazione Difesa Lavoratrici e Lavoratori [it] (ADL) and Italian Syndicalist Union (USI) was held across Italy to protest the country's complicity in the Gaza genocide amid the Gaza war,[a] and saw the participation of tens, possibly hundreds, of thousands of citizens.[1][2] Protests also took place in San Marino[11] and Bellinzona, Ticino, Switzerland,[12][13] and continued in Italy for the next days.

Background and goals

Strike at the port of Ancona, 19 September 2025

The strike, marked by the slogan Blocchiamo tutto ("Let's Block Everything"), was aimed at implementing a nationwide block of ports, roads and workplaces to stop the shipments of arms and supplies to Israel, denouncing its mass killings and blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as its attempts to thwart humanitarian efforts like the Global Sumud Flotilla.[1][5][6][7][10] USB called for "the immediate break-off of relations with the terrorist state of Israel".[4]

The protests followed a separate day of more limited industrial action, lasting four hours and excluding essential public services, that was called for 19 September by the Transport Federation of the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), Italy's largest trade union.[7][8][14][15] CUB Trasporti, which joined the 19 September action,[16] withdrew from the 22 September strike along with USB Lavoro Privato.[17] The Catholic Italian Confederation of Trades Unions (CISL) and the moderate Italian Labour Union (UIL) did not participate, opting instead for fundraising and solidarity initiatives.[18]

On 20 September, protests in support of the general strike, and with its same goals, continued in various places of Italy, such as in Mestre where over ten thousand people protested, blocking the entrance to the city entirely, with the official support of the CGIL, the USB, parties that include the Five Star Movement (M5S), the Democratic Party (PD) and the Greens and Left Alliance (AVS), and organizations such as ANPI and the Italian-based NGO Emergency.[19][20] Another ten thousand people also gathered in Turin on the same day, sponsored by Rete Torino per Gaza ("Turin Network for Gaza"), local mosques and political parties such as M5S and Power to the People.[21] A minor protest was also scheduled in Rome where the organization Last Generation proclaimed an unauthorized hunger strike protest supporting the general strike and the Palestinian cause, which was however halted before its start with the arrest of 4 activists.[22]

The general strike of some metropolitan lines started to be applied as early as 21:00 local time, on September 21.[23]

Events

Rete degli Studenti Medi at the general strike for Gaza in Ancona
The facade of Milano Centrale railway station from Piazza Duca d'Aosta after the square was cleared, with Carabinieri advancing towards Via Vittor Pisani, where the protest had been dispersed. (credits: Chronocol Media)
A man stands facing police on Via Vittor Pisani during a brief pause in the protest, moments before another police charge. (credits: Chronocol Media)

Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police forces, most notably in Milan, where the former smashed a window at the Centrale railway station and threw smoke bombs, bottles and stones, and the latter beat and fired tear gas and pepper spray at them.[1][5] At least 10 people were arrested, 60 police were wounded,[2][5] and the M4 metro line was shut down.[2][4] Major clashes also occurred at the Napoli Centrale railway station in Naples, where protesters broke through a security deployment and reached the platforms.[2][24] A protest at a highway in Bologna was dispersed by water cannon and smoke bombs,[1][5][25] with at least eight arrests,[25] while a separate group disrupted lectures at the University of Bologna.[4] Protesters in Rome gathered outside the Termini railway station,[6] forcing the cancellation of several services,[2][4] and broke during lectures at Sapienza University,[2] while dockworkers in Genoa, La Spezia, Ravenna, Trieste, Venice and Livorno halted all arms transfers to Israel[2][5][6][7][26] and other protesters blocked the entrance to the ports.[2][4][7] Other major student and workers' actions took place in Turin, Palermo, Catania, Potenza, Bari, Lecce, Brindisi, Sassari, Cagliari, Bolzano, Pisa, Calenzano, Campi Bisenzio (the location of a Leonardo weapons factory), Brescia and Novara.[2]

Reactions

Italy

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the strike, calling protesters "hooligans" and claiming that clashing with the police and destroying private property would not help the people in Gaza;[2][5] ministers Matteo Salvini and Matteo Piantedosi, and Senate chair Ignazio La Russa, joined her remarks.[2][25] Media have highlighted the posture of the Meloni government as strictly pro-Israel during the war, with the cabinet ruling out any recognition of the State of Palestine in contrast with what numerous other European countries chose to do at the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.[1][5][7] Replying to Meloni, opposition leader Elly Schlein stated her condemnation for the violence of "a few hundred protesters" while demanding that the government distance itself from "Netanyahu's crimes in Gaza and the West Bank".[2]

Il Fatto Quotidiano criticised the coverage of the strike by the government agencies and "almost all" the daily newspapers, alleging that they focused on events in Milan and exaggerated damage to the Centrale station, but ignored or marginalised the reports of mass assemblies in public urban spaces.[27]

Israel

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, in co-operation with the J-soc National Center for Combating Antisemitism, monitored the strike and protests really closely, and compiled a detailed dossier on the protests and their participants in both Italy and San Marino,[28] which was later publically published on Israel's official government website.[29][30][31]

The Coordinamento dei Collettivi Autorganizzati Universitari (CAU) defined the dossier "creepy" and questioned the reasons why the Israeli government would produce such a document and record activities of people outside of its national borders, adding that protesters have always been publicly identifiable citizens determined in good faith to stop a genocide.[29][31]

Aftermath

On 24 September, the Italian minister of defence Guido Crosetto expressed his condemnation of the recent drone attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla and announced that, after consulting with the Chief of the Defence Staff General Luciano Portolano and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he had authorised the immediate dispatch of the multipurpose frigate Virginio Fasan to assist Italian citizens on board the flotilla, of which he had informed the military attaché of the Israeli Defence Forces in Italy.[32][33]

The attacks had caused protests in many places of Italy.[34] The very first reaction was from the CGIL, which announced an immediate protest in Piazza di Monte Citorio in Rome (where the Chamber of Deputies is located).[35] Another protest in Rome, such as the one in front of a Rheinmetall factory, protesting armament sale to Israel, continuing even after the arrival of law enforcement, with some individuals chaining themselves to the entrance of the building.[36] Student movements in Rome protested and also occupied various universities and schools, protesting the attack on the Flotilla.[37][38] In Turin, at least over two thousand people reunited in Piazza Castello,[39][40] making its way to the Torino Porta Susa railway station; after reaching the station, some of the protesters entered the trains where they shouted and hanged various slogans and posters,[40] whilst others, around 20:00 local time, occupied the railway track of the station, blocking the circulation of the local train.[41] In Florence, students organized a protest which started in Via Santo Spirito and ended in front of the local U.S. consulate. Meanwhile, in Livorno and Taranto, protests prevented Israeli ships from docking in the port.[42][43] In Milan, a protest sponsored by CUB started in Piazza della Scala before going towards Piazza Castello, with protesters chanting "Bella ciao".[40] In Pisa, a protest started in Piazza XX Settembre, before the protesters occupied the San Rossore railway station, preventing various trains from circulating.[44] In Bologna, the Prima Piazza del Nettuno and its sorrounding areas were occupied by a protest which counted thousands of people with many of them asking for Israeli exclusion from the Giro dell'Emilia; the University of Bologna was also occupied.[45] Protests also took place in Osnago, Cuneo and Verona.[46][47][48]

On the same day, the USB announced that on 26 September, a new general strike, with the same goals as the last one, was going to be held due to the renewed Israeli attacks.[35][49]

On September 25, protests continued, including one in Macerata in which the group "Saturdays for Palestine" protested in Piazza della Libertà, one in Spoleto and one in Chieti.[50][51][52] CGIL Catania also protested in Piazza Stesicoro with a partial strike and demonstration.[53]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kassam, Ashifa (22 September 2025). "Disruption across Italy as tens of thousands protest against Gaza war". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Cortei per Gaza, tensioni tra manifestanti e forze dell'ordine in tutta Italia". Rai News (in Italian). RAI. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  3. ^ Genovese, Vincenzo (24 September 2025). "Recognition of Palestine: Public opinion pushes Meloni's change of heart". Euronews. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Strikes, marches across Italy for Gaza". ANSA. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Greco, Claudia; Uras, Anna (22 September 2025). "Pro-Palestinian protesters fight police in Milan, Italian ports blocked". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Anti-Israel protesters rally across Italy after unions call to 'denounce the genocide in Gaza'". Times of Israel. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Blackburn, Gavin (22 September 2025). "Thousands strike across Italy in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, causing widespread disruption". Euronews. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Gaza strikes, stoppages on 19 and 22 September. Timetables and what to know". Il Sole 24 Ore. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  9. ^ "'Blocchiamo tutto in solidarietà a Gaza': oggi è il giorno dello sciopero generale". ParmaToday (in Italian). 22 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Sciopero per Gaza domani su treni, bus, navi e a scuola. Ma i disagi continueranno fino a novembre". La Repubblica (in Italian). 21 September 2025. Archived from the original on 21 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  11. ^ Quadrelli, Valentina; Taddei, Francesca (22 September 2025). "Manifestazione per la Palestina a San Marino: :Non si può più stare in silenzio'" [Protest for Palestine in San Marino: "We can no longer remain silent"]. San Marino RTV. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  12. ^ Molinaro, Marino (22 September 2025). "Strage a Gaza, corteo di protesta a Bellinzona" [Gaza massacre: Protest march in Bellinzona]. laRegione. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  13. ^ "A Bellinzona una manifestazione rumorosa per la Palestina" [A noisy demonstration for Palestine in Bellinzona]. Corriere del Ticino (in Italian). 22 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  14. ^ "I due giorni di scioperi (divisi) per Gaza: oggi quello della Cgil, il 22 settembre incrociano le braccia i sindacati di base". L'Espresso (in Italian). 19 September 2025. Archived from the original on 19 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Sciopero per Gaza, Landini: 'Il governo blocchi le armi per Israele, altrimenti è complice'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 19 September 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  16. ^ Vitale, Antonio (19 September 2025). "Cub Trasporti, alta adesione allo sciopero: la lotta per i diritti non si ferma". PalermoToday (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Tram, adesione revocata l'adesione di USB Lavoro Privato e CUB Trasporti". FirenzeToday (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Oggi protesta nazionale di 24 ore in solidarietà alla popolazione palestinese". Siena Post (in Italian). 22 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Corteo per Gaza a Mestre, 8mila persone: lo striscione dei piccoli in prima fila: «I bambini non hanno colpe». I cartelli di accuse (anche in dialetto veneto)". Il Gazzettino (in Italian). 20 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  20. ^ Fiorenzano, Massimo Zennaro, montaggio Sergio (21 September 2025). "Manifestazione Pro Palestina, in diecimila a Mestre". Rai News (in Italian). RAI. Retrieved 25 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Giachino, Alberto (21 September 2025). "Torino per la Palestina, la più grande onda umana vista in città". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Proteste Pro Pal, attiviste di 'Ultima generazione' denunciate a Roma". Virgilio.it (in Italian). 20 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Sciopero generale in arrivo: metro, treni e tutti i trasporti a rischio per 24 ore". MilanoToday (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  24. ^ "Sciopero per Gaza, a Napoli manifestanti sfondano il blocco e occupano la stazione centrale: tensione con la polizia". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  25. ^ a b c "Sciopero pro Gaza, giornata di tensione. Quattro arresti, manifestanti pro pal davanti alla questura". TGR Emilia-Romagna (in Italian). RAI. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  26. ^ De Lorenzo, Daniela (19 September 2025). "Italian unions' general strike for Gaza will block ports and logistics". Shippingwatch. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  27. ^ Milone, Martina (23 September 2025). "'Milano distrutta dalla guerriglia' come raccontano giornali e tv? Il giorno dopo alla stazione Centrale è tutto normale, mancano solo i vetri a due portoni". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  28. ^ "Dossier israeliano sulle proteste pro-Gaza: monitorati cortei in Italia e a San Marino". www.sanmarinortv.sm. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  29. ^ a b Argenio, Ubaldo (24 September 2025). "Spunta il dossier di Israele sugli attivisti che hanno manifestato in Italia durante lo sciopero per Gaza". Virgilio.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  30. ^ "Israele spiava le manifestazioni italiane Pro-Pal: c'era un dossier anche sul corteo di Bari". La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  31. ^ a b Traglia, Davide (24 September 2025). "Israele controlla gli attivisti in piazza per Gaza". Osservatorio Repressione (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  32. ^ "Dichiarazione del Ministro Crosetto". difesa.it (in Italian). Ministry of Defence. 24 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  33. ^ "Flotilla, il ministro Crosetto invia in soccorso la fregata Fasan. La Cgil: «Pronti allo sciopero»". Giornale di Sicilia (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  34. ^ Zanna, Elisabetta (24 September 2025). "Italia nel caos: l'attacco alla Flotilla scatena proteste in tutta la nazione". Giornale La Voce (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  35. ^ a b "Gaza: Cgil, gravissimo ennesimo attacco a Flotilla, oggi presidio in Piazza Montecitorio, pronti a sciopero generale". www.cgil.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  36. ^ "Roma, attivisti pro-Pal si incatenano davanti a un'azienda produttrice di armamenti". L'Espresso (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  37. ^ "Al via le occupazioni studentesche a Roma, dopo lo sciopero degli studenti in protesta per Gaza". Agenzia Nova (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  38. ^ Argenti, Giulia (24 September 2025). "Proteste per Gaza alla Sapienza, la rettrice: 'Non sospenderemo gli accordi con gli atenei israeliani'". RomaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  39. ^ Ottavio, Gianluca (24 September 2025). "Torino scende in piazza per Gaza: di nuovo in 2mila per le strade del centro". Giornale La Voce (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  40. ^ a b c "Droni sulla nave per Gaza, proteste in Italia: bloccati i binari a Torino". Sbircia la Notizia Magazine (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  41. ^ Surano, Chiara; Sismondi, Edoardo (24 September 2025). "La mobilitazione dei pro Palestina: occupati i binari della stazione". TorinoToday (in Italian). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  42. ^ "Proteste in Toscana per attacchi alla Sumud Flotilla, a Firenze tensione davanti a consolato Usa". La Nazione (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  43. ^ "Taranto,la protesta al porto ferma la nave Seasalvia israeliana". CosmoPolis (in Italian). 25 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  44. ^ Del Punta, Enrico Mattia (25 September 2025). "Nuovo corteo dei Pro-Pal . Bloccata Pisa-San Rossore". La Nazione (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  45. ^ "Corteo per la Flotilla a Bologna, migliaia in piazza e Giurisprudenza occupata: 'Siamo antisionisti'". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  46. ^ "Osnago: campagna per Gaza e per il 'diritto alla protesta'". Merateonline (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  47. ^ "Global Sumud Flotilla attaccata da droni, veronesi subito in piazza". VeronaSera (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  48. ^ "Oggi alle 18 a Cuneo un nuovo presidio per la Palestina". La Guida. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  49. ^ "Gaza, Usb lancia un 'nuovo sciopero generale senza preavviso'. E a Roma Termini sarà presidio permanente". RomaToday (in Italian). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  50. ^ Giorgi, Leonardo (25 September 2025). "Attacco contro la Flotilla per Gaza, protesta in piazza della Libertà". Cronache Maceratesi (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  51. ^ "Chieti in piazza per la Global Sumud Flotilla e la Palestina, presidio per dire stop agli attacchi in acque internazionali". ChietiToday (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  52. ^ "Giù le mani dalla Flotilla: il 25 settembre insieme a Spoleto". www.filleaumbria.it (in Italian). Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  53. ^ "Solidarietà alla Global Sumud Flotilla. Sciopero Cgil oggi e domani". Free Press Online (in Italian). 25 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
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