Tens of thousands of Italians mobilized on Monday in a coordinated day of action to protest the genocide in Gaza. The nationwide movement included transport strikes, mass marches, and the blockade of major port facilities, reflecting a broad wave of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

In Rome, around 20,000 protesters, many of whom are students, rallied outside the Termini train station, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine!" Some participants had marched from the Colosseum, carrying a banner that read: "Against Genocide. Let's block everything."

Port blockades in Genoa and Livorno disrupted logistics, while public transportation services across Rome, including buses and the metro, faced significant interruptions.

Organizers estimated that 50,000 people turned out in Milan, where a US flag was reportedly set on fire. Demonstrations also erupted in Bologna, where more than 10,000 people took to the streets, as well as in Florence, Naples, Turin, and Sicily.

Youth-led movement gains momentum

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Young Italians played a leading role in the mobilization. "I’m here to support a population that is being exterminated," 17-year-old Michelangelo told the AFP at the Rome protest. Also speaking to AFP, Francesca Tecchia, 18, said it was her first protest because "what is happening [in Gaza] is too important."

Federica Casino, 52, joined students in protest "for Gaza’s dead children and destroyed hospitals." She remarked to the AFP, "Italy talks but does nothing."

These events are part of a broader wave of youth-led activism across Italy. Since October 7, 2023, student protests, encampments, and weekly marches have become regular across campuses and cities, with sustained participation despite growing police repression.

Meloni Government’s response under scrutiny

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, known for its alignment with US President Donald Trump, has been criticized for its soft stance. Although it has condemned the ongoing aggression on Gaza, it has refused to recognize a Palestinian state or support EU-led trade sanctions on "Israel".

Initially expressing full support for "Israel’s" "right to self-defense" after the October 7 operation, the Italian government has since shifted its tone. By mid-2024, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called "Israel’s" actions "unacceptable", and by July 2025, Meloni herself described the situation in Gaza as "unsustainable and unjustifiable."

Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also condemned Netanyahu's government back in August, saying that the Israeli government "lost its sanity and humanity" and must be stopped.

Despite these statements, Italy maintains that it has not exported arms to "Israel" since the beginning of the war. Still, critics argue that the government’s measures fall short of public expectations.

Shift in public opinion

The protests come amid a dramatic shift in Italian public opinion. A recent poll published by La Stampa showed that 64% of Italians view the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "very serious", while 41% support official recognition of a Palestinian state. Another poll found that nearly half of Italians believe "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza.