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There were several strikes and protests in Italy that caused a lot of trouble. Israeli soldiers blocked the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was bringing supplies to Gaza. This event brought together many unions and civil society groups, which resulted in big protests.
Big Event
The Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, which is the largest labour union, had a key role in organising these strikes. On October 3, more than 2 million Italians went on strike. That’s nearly 60% of the country’s population. The protests took place in more than 100 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Florence. They stopped key public services, including transportation and education.
Key Points
The protests were caused by a few key issues:
Worries about people
People went out onto the streets to protest what they saw and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Workers’ Rights
Workers protested because they were going to lose their jobs, their salaries were going to stay the same, and their working conditions were going to get worse.
Accountability in Politics
Protesters asked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government to be more vocal about human rights issues that affect people all around the world.
Fights and Problems
These incidents caused a lot of trouble all over the country:
- Trains stopped running and flights were delayed. However, train systems in Rome and Milan kept running.
- Some schools and universities had to close or only operate partially.
- Many public services were shut down, which made daily life harder.
Response from the Government
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the actions were political and caused problems. In line with U.S. President Trump’s government, she stayed on the side of Israel. But people were becoming more and more against Israel’s actions; in fact, 63% of people there saw the attack as genocide. This change in public opinion put even more pressure on Meloni’s government to change its mind.
Vandalism and fights between protesters and police were reported in towns like Milan and Turin on a few occasions. Even though these things happened, most of the protests were calm.
Italy’s labour turmoil is likely to last all through the year. More than 40 protests are set to happen between now and the end of 2025. These include walkouts at big airports like Rome Fiumicino, Pisa, Florence, and Milan Linate. The Italian Transport Ministry’s strike plan is a good way for travellers to stay up to date.
World Solidarity
The strikes were a part of a bigger action going on around the world. Countries like Spain, the Netherlands, and the US held similar protests to show support for the Palestinian cause and condemn the war in Gaza.
