A general strike has taken place across Italy today, called by the CGIL and USB unions, in protest against the armed attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of ships carrying Italian citizens and activists in support of Gaza, attacked on October 1.
Transportation, schools and healthcare halted – clashes with police in several cities
The strike has affected key sectors such as public transport, education and healthcare. Over 100 protests have taken place in various cities, while in some cases clashes have been reported between protesters and police, such as in Naples and Salerno, where there were injuries.
In Milan, parts of the motorway and the tangential road were blocked by protesters, while in Bologna the motorway junction was completely closed due to the protest march. In Trento, Genoa, Turin, Rome, Palermo, Bari, Naples, Florence and other cities, demonstrations were held with massive participation.
Blockages and tensions
In Genoa and Florence, railway tracks were occupied, disrupting rail traffic. In Rome, protesters threw eggs at the barriers near the Ministry of Transport.
Many protests have featured symbols of Palestine, but also of the new generation of protesters, such as the flag of "One Piece", a Japanese anime that has become a symbol of youth resistance around the world. In Palermo, 30,000 participants, Florence over 30,000 people, the largest protest since 2002. Turin, Bari, Naples, Catania, Perugia, Genoa also had massive participation and road and rail blockages.
The protests have also involved Italian citizens abroad.
Employees of Italian embassies and institutions in Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon have joined the strike. In a statement they said:
"We establish our rejection of the Israeli government's genocide and aggression against the Flotilla. We also oppose the silence and abandonment of Italian citizens in international waters by our government."
Politics and reactions
The Italian government, and in particular Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, have called the strike illegal due to the lack of official warning. Salvini warned that "if there is violence, there will be a response."
