MILAN: Large-scale demonstrations and strikes were staged across Italy as workers and trade unions protested against Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Protesters blocked entry points to several ports, while clashes broke out between demonstrators and police at railway stations. Public transport services and school activities were also disrupted as part of the nationwide protest.
Italian workers declared that they opposed the use of Italy as a hub for the transportation of weapons and supplies to Israel.
Thousands of people took to the streets in major cities including Milan, Naples, Genoa, and Trieste, voicing solidarity with Palestinians. In some places, police resorted to using tear gas to disperse crowds.
The protests come against the backdrop of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, which is considered one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe.
The Italian government has repeatedly rejected the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state, in contrast to growing international support for Palestinian sovereignty.
