Italy Holds Major Nationwide Strike as Mass Solidarity Actions for Palestine Sweep Across Cities

Hawzah News Agency- The 24-hour general strike, called by several of the country’s largest labor unions, disrupted key sectors including public transport, railways, aviation, government services and education.

But Friday’s strike quickly expanded beyond economic grievances, taking on a powerful political and humanitarian dimension. In cities across the country, thousands of workers, students and activists marched under Palestinian flags, chanting demands to end the war on Gaza, lift the blockade, and protect civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Organizers said the war made it “impossible to talk about human dignity or social rights while children and women are being killed every day'', insisting that social justice in Europe is inseparable from human justice in Palestine.

Demonstrations filled the streets of Rome, Milan, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Naples and Bologna, where rallies and sit-ins took place outside government buildings, public institutions and universities. In Milan, transport workers staged a one-hour collective stoppage “for the children of Gaza'', while education unions held solidarity events inside schools and campuses.

Friday’s strike marks the second major mobilization by Italian unions in recent weeks in support of Palestine, highlighting a growing wave of public support for Palestinian rights and increasing European discontent with the ongoing war.

The Italian mobilization comes as calls intensify across Europe for an immediate ceasefire, restrictions on arms exports to Israel and a reassessment of political and economic ties with Tel Aviv. Analysts say the Italian street movement is adding momentum to a broader European push to pressure governments toward stronger action on Gaza.

As a result, Friday’s general strike in Italy became more than a protest against domestic economic policies. It emerged as a dual political and humanitarian message—reflecting a shifting public consciousness in Europe, where solidarity with Palestine is becoming a central theme in social movements throughout 2025.

Source: EUPAC