How Italy's Workers Shut Their Country Down For Gaza

"Last week, as the Israeli military continued to annihilate the Gaza strip, a 24-hour general strike rocked the Italian peninsula. Demanding an end to Italy's complicity in the genocide, half a million people abandoned their workplaces, schools, and universities in over 80 cities across the country, inspired by a single slogan: " Blocchiamo tutto." ("Let's block everything.") The precise number of participants will remain a matter of contention, but the scale and efficacy of the September 22 strike exceeded all expectations."

"As the protesters swelled in number, it became easier to manage a blockade of strategic points across the country. In addition to the dozens of cities where urban traffic was severely disrupted, highways were obstructed in Turin, Florence, Bologna, and Rome, train tracks invaded in Turin, Naples, and Milan, and subways halted in Brescia and Milan. Finally, ports were blocked in Genova, Trieste, Venice, Livorno, and Salerno."

"Dockworkers' pro-Palestinian activism was absolutely crucial to the strike, not just because of their support of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which is sailing toward Gaza with supplies. Dockworkers are uniquely capable of disrupting production across Italy and impeding the continued flow of weapons and other military technologies from European ports to Israel. Following the United States and Germany, Italy has become the third-largest supplier of weapons to Israel in the world."

Half a million people across over 80 Italian cities organized a 24-hour general strike, blocking highways, train tracks, subways, and ports to protest Italy's role in Israel's assault on Gaza. Coordinated disruptions occurred in Turin, Florence, Bologna, Rome, Naples, Milan, Brescia, Genova, Trieste, Venice, Livorno, and Salerno. Dockworkers played a decisive role by supporting a Global Sumud Flotilla and by obstructing port operations that enable weapons and military technology transfers. Italy ranks as the world's third-largest weapons supplier to Israel and exports dual-use materials such as ammonium nitrate and radioactive isotopes linked to explosive and thermonuclear applications. Government foreign policy choices faced intense domestic criticism.

Read at The Nation