Italian protests sprout from all ends of the country in support of the State of Palestine.
On Sep 22, the country of Italy went on a full stop as streets became overshadowed by civilians, workers on strike and Palestinian flags.
“It was a day of general strike for all of Italy, from midnight of the 22nd to midnight of the 23rd, proclaimed by grassroot unions in support of the population of Gaza and the Global Sumud Flotilla,” Sky TG 24 reported.
The cities of Milan and Rome gathered the largest crowds, but cities such as Torino, Bologna, Firenze, Napoli, Bari, Genova and Marghera also showed their solidarity for Palestinians. An ‘immortal’ Palestinian flag was also seen fluttering in the wind on the summit of Mount Cervino, one of the highest peaks of the Italian Alps and all of Europe.
“Under the slogan of ‘Let’s Block Everything,’ those taking part in the general strike called on the government to suspend commercial and military cooperation with Israel and expressed support for the Global Sumud Flotilla,” The Guardian reported.
The Italian cities that commanded the biggest crowds are that of Milan and Rome.
“Organisers said 50,000 people had turned out in the northern city of Milan,” The Guardian reported. “In Rome, more than 20,000 people gathered outside the Termini train station waving Palestinian flags and chanting “free Palestine.”
The Italian government first answered via Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“Violence and destruction have nothing to do with solidarity and won’t change a thing in the lives of people in Gaza,” Meloni said on social media.
Later news, however, brought changing winds to that of Europe’s position as a whole. Both England and France stepped up in an almost simultaneous manner and recognized Palestine as a state just earlier this week.
“Ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s announcement, the Palestinian and Israeli flags were displayed on the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Sunday night,” BBC reported.
England’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer jointly stated that “I state clearly as Prime Minister of this great country that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine.”
This newly created international pressure has made heads turn back to Italy’s own premier for her next move.
After headlines had first run with news of President Macron’s and Prime Minister Sir Starmer recognition of the Palestinian state, Premier Meloni gave an announcement.
“The parties forming her government will present a motion calling for Palestine’s recognition in the Italian Parliament, subject to two conditions: release of the hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October 2023 attacks and exclusion of Hamas from any involvement in a future Palestinian government,” Meloni said.
To directly quote the executive, “I am not against recognising Palestine, but we need to focus on the right priorities,” Reuters reported.
The acts of the protestors in these famous Italian cities, who denied their quotidian duties in order to honor their civil ones, gave way to enough interior political pressure to be heard.
Prime Minister Meloni, who is well-addressed as an ally of Israel until lately, has been moved to concede in certain matters.
The Defence Minister of Italy, Guido Crosetto, was able to send Italian navy ships to escort and protect the activist floating movement of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
“It is not an act of war. It is not a provocation. It is an act of humanity, which is a duty of a state towards its citizens,” Crosetto said.
As more European states begin to recognize the State of Palestine, more pressure will come down to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
