Italy: Tens of thousands stage protests over Gaza war as Meloni refuses to back Palestine state

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets across Italy on Monday, clashing with police and blocking roads in cities including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence, Genoa and Livorno.

The demonstrations were part of a nationwide strike, “Let’s Block Everything,” called by trade unions in protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza and the heavy casualties among Palestinians.

Large-scale marches and clashes

In Rome, more than 20,000 people marched, including high school students waving Palestinian flags. At Milan’s central train station, clashes erupted when some protesters hurled stones and chairs at police and smashed windows.

Police in riot gear used tear gas to disperse the crowd, leaving over 60 officers injured and resulting in more than 10 arrests, according to state media.

Protests at ports

At Venice port, police deployed water cannons to manage demonstrators, while workers staged protests at ports in Genoa, Livorno and Trieste to prevent Italy being used as a hub for arms transfers to Israel.

Meloni’s cautious stance on recognising Palestine

The protests coincided with several countries recognising the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly, including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Portugal.

Italy, however, has remained cautious and has not joined other Western nations in backing Palestinian statehood.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government said it does not wish to recognise Palestine “for the moment” and has been reluctant to support EU trade sanctions, despite expressing concern over Israel’s ground offensive.