Strikes for Gaza: for CGIL more than 2 million in 100 squares. Viminale: 400,000 participants in 29 demonstrations

"Is there a 'political war' on the part of the CGIL against the government as Matteo Salvini declared today? "I believe that for some time now the CGIL has also been saying this explicitly, not political war but in short a call for social revolt. As a government we are satisfied that the issues that are being taken to the streets are not those of employment and economic issues, all issues on which the government is marking achievements such as we have not seen in years and decades, and this also on those of security and immigration'. Thus Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Leopolda in Florence.

"The data collected at 7 p.m. speak of a strike participation that among public employees stops at 7% overall". This was stated by the Minister for Public Administration, Paolo Zangrillo, according to whom "it is also likely that, looking at the historical series of previous strikes, the final participation figure will be lower". "Lastly, it is fair to emphasise that in sectors that are fundamental for services to citizens, the figure was decidedly lower, as noted by the 1.77% in the health sector. The public administration,' he concluded, 'has guaranteed full operations, thus ensuring the provision of services to citizens without inconvenience. The low adhesion confirms the daily commitment of our people in keeping the administrative machine efficient, even in the face of sudden strike initiatives'.

"Today, 29 demonstrations with 396,400 participants have been organised in the country. In the two days of yesterday and today, 55 injuries were reported among the police forces due to the aggressions they suffered'. This was reported by the Viminale. (ANSA).

After the demonstrations that marched through Turin all day long, blocking different areas of the city, the evening procession started from piazza Castello, renamed piazza Palestina for months. Several thousand people joined the Turin for Gaza march that started to parade in the direction of north Turin, along Via XX Settembre.

"Knowing that in the middle of the day there are 30 policemen injured, stations blocked, highways stopped, airports invaded... We wanted to give the CGIL a chance to stop, the strike had been declared illegitimate, because strikes are declared 10 days in advance and not 2, but they wanted to go ahead. Since there will be another 40 strikes between now and the end of the year, I will know, at this point, how to protect millions of Italians, their right to mobility, work, study, health. We gave them a chance, they preferred to make political war, talking about peace, we will know how to behave'. Vice-Premier and League leader Matteo Salvini said this in Reggio Calabria.

Traffic changes confirmed in Milan after 6pm on the day of the national strike in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla and Palestine. After 6pm, informs Atm, the underground lines M2, M4 and M5 are open, M1 and M3 are closed instead. Demonstrations and marches are affecting tram and bus services: several lines are diverted. Night lines are guaranteed after 1am.

Thousands invaded the streets of Pescara this morning for the general strike proclaimed by Usb and CGIL in defence of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Palestinian people. The mobilisation, which was mainly attended by young students and workers, paralysed the city traffic. The main procession, coloured by Palestinian flags, trade union banners and slogans ('Abruzzo knows where it stands, free Palestine from the river to the sea'), crossed the central streets until it reached Piazza Italia, in front of the Prefecture and the City Hall. During the demonstration, a group of activists broke away from the march and blocked the Asse Attrezzato, the motorway linking Pescara to Chieti, for several minutes, stopping the queued cars and chanting chants: 'Axis closed for genocide'. The atmosphere remained peaceful but charged with civil tension, with choruses, whistles and calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The flags of Usb, CGIL and the Students' Union waved alongside Palestinian ones. The Association of Italian Local Authorities (Ali) Abruzzo also supported the initiative. President Angelo Radica emphasised that the mayors of Abruzzo had joined the strike with conviction: 'It is a fundamental opportunity to reiterate the need to continue to fight for the Palestinian people, with the greatest possible constancy'. Radica also recalled that Ali nazionale had decided to cancel the third day of the Festival delle Città to encourage participation.

'There are 10,000 of us at today's procession, we are blocking everything for the rights of Palestine and the Flotilla crew'. This was said by the organisers (Marche social centres, Marche per la Palestina, CGIL and USB) at the procession blocking the port of Ancona. The pro-Pal demonstrators started from Viale Marconi, passing through the Mole Vanvitelliana area to the port customs and then to the Da Chio quay. The square is packed with demonstrators whistling and clapping their hands chanting the chorus 'Free Palestine! Marche knows which side it is on. Free Palestine from the river to the sea'. No disturbances were reported.

The identification of the demonstrators who, at the end of the procession for Palestine in Trento, invaded the railway station platforms for a few minutes, is in progress. Those responsible, the Trento Police Headquarters announced, will be referred to the judicial authorities. Also on Thursday evening, about a hundred people had occupied the tracks, temporarily blocking the movement of trains. During the procession, a group of about 200 people also tried to force - without succeeding - the Police and Carabinieri blockade set up at the Trento Centro motorway exit. The normal traffic flow on the A22 motorway was guaranteed throughout the day, while the city road system suffered inevitable repercussions, without ever resulting in public order problems, also thanks to the more than 100 men and women of the police force present. Once they left the ring road - which remained blocked for about three hours in both directions - the procession gradually split into two sections: one part of the demonstrators headed back towards the Faculty of Sociology, while another group headed towards Piazza Dante, invading, as mentioned, the station platforms for a few minutes.

A peaceful procession of over 50,000 people, increased along the route by many thousands more, marched through Turin on the day of the general strike and protest proclaimed by CGIL and Usb. It started from Piazza Palazzo di Città, renamed 'Gaza Square' a few days ago, with the Cub and student groups. Disturbances were created by a group of a hundred or so demonstrators of the so-called 'spezzone sociale', with antagonists, in an attempt to enter the Ogr (Officine grandi Riparazioni), where the Tech Week events were held, with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, in dialogue with John Elkann, President of Stellantis and CEO of Exor. The same in front of the Leonardo headquarters. The main procession, made up of workers, students, families with children marched for ten kilometres, with slogans such as 'Italy, Turin, know which side to be on', 'Free Palestine', 'boycott Israel' mixed with Palestinian music and songs. The antagonist group, on the other hand, threw stones, smoke smoke bombs and various objects at the police in an initial attempt to enter the Ogr, passing through the area of the incubators and the Polytechnic campus, which was rejected by the police. In the afternoon, on the western outskirts, in front of Leonardo, they repeated a dense firing, receiving tear gas in response from the security forces. After breaking through some panels, the demonstrators entered the employee car park, heavily damaging cars with stones and graffiti. Demonstrations, with smaller numbers of participants, were held in all the Piedmontese provinces.

A day of mobilisation in Molise for Palestine and in support of the Global Flotilla: about a thousand people including students, workers, trade unions and citizens marched through the streets of Termoli, Campobasso and Isernia with flags and banners, shouting slogans such as 'Free Palestine'. All the demonstrations took place peacefully, but caused traffic delays. In Campobasso, in the rain and cold, hundreds of people took part in the procession promoted by CGIL, Usb and Movimento 4 settembre, marching through the town centre to the town hall, with students, workers, pensioners and political representatives of M5S, Pd and other left-wing forces. In Isernia, over 350 demonstrators filled Piazza della Repubblica, mostly students and teachers, together with the mayor Piero Castrataro and other administrators. A Palestinian woman resident in the city launched an appeal to civil society for an end to the genocide of children, which was greeted by applause and the slogan 'Free Palestine'. In Termoli, about a hundred high school students marched through the city in stages, starting from Piazza 'Donatori di Sangue' to the town hall, with the participation of trade unions, teachers and left-wing parties. The students reiterated the importance of mobilisation in the international arena for the recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people.

The social section of the pro-Palestine procession, which left this morning from Piazza Palazzo di Città, renamed Piazza Gaza, is returning to the centre of Turin, to Piazza Castello, and then broke off at the Ogr to continue towards the Turin headquarters of Leonardo. The procession, after the riots that took place right in front of Leonardo, followed for security reasons by the police, is proceeding through the side streets, passed in front of the CPR and is continuing in the direction of the city centre where a new demonstration in support of the Palestinian people is scheduled to take place at 6pm.

The head of the procession in Rome, on the occasion of the general strike called by the trade unions in support of Gaza and the Sumud Flotilla, arrived at Porta Maggiore, in the centre, where the end of the demonstration is planned. The queue of the procession is still at the exit of the Raccordo and the A24, entering the ring road. "Today we were hundreds of thousands. Tomorrow for Palestine we must be a million,' said al Maya Issa, president of the Palestinian students as he broke up the procession, making an appointment for tomorrow's national demonstration.

In Basilicata, parades in the two capitals, without any reported tensions or particular criticalities, marked the day of the general strike called by CGIL and Usb in defence of the Flotilla and for Gaza. According to CGIL sources, about two thousand people crossed the streets of Potenza, from the Verderuolo district, the students' meeting point, to the central Mario Pagano square. About two thousand also gathered in the historic centre of the Sassi. It was from Matera that Vanessa Scalera, the actress engaged in Basilicata in the shooting of the new series of the RAI fiction 'Imma Tataranni', also posted social 'stories'. Satisfaction for the strike adhesions was expressed by the Lucania secretary of the CGIL, Fernando Mega, who took part in the demonstration in Matera. 'Today,' he said, 'Basilicata responded with participation, with hundreds of citizens, workers and students at the processions in the two capitals. The Lucanian Fai Cisl, on the other hand, took a different view: 'In Basilicata only 0.3% of 1,915 agri-food workers took part in the strike. A figure that clearly shows that the workers in Basilicata in this sector understood that the nature of the protest had only the flavour of a political and ideological protest and that it would not have advanced the resolution of the conflict in the Middle East one inch nor would it have alleviated the suffering of the Palestinian people'.

More than 200 demonstrators started three hours earlier than announced the blockade of goods at the Interporto della Toscana Centrale, a logistics hub in Prato between motorways, railways and connected to the port of Livorno. The blockade of trucks to and from the interport, which acts as a nerve centre for central Italian goods, was started by some Sudd Cobas workers and trade unionists. 'Unlike our government, the workers are not complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people. From here,' says Luca Toscano, one of the leaders of the grassroots union, 'every day there is a lot of goods coming in and out of Israel. With today's blockade we claim the trade embargo on Israel and the end of the siege on Gaza. It is once again up to the people to do what the government refuses to do'.

Protesters taking part in the procession for the general strike promoted by the trade unions and CGIL in Pisa reached the Galileo Galilei airport. After forcing the police blockade, they invaded the runway where the planes were supposed to leave. The operation of the airport is temporarily suspended. This morning the demonstrators had crossed a section of the A12 motorway near the Pisa Centro exit.

A group of pro-Pal protesters organised a sit-in today in front of the Visconteo Castle in Pavia, one of the stops on Sergio Mattarella's visit to the city today. While the President of the Republic was viewing the exhibition in which the Tapestries dedicated to the Battle of Pavia in 1525 are also on display, a number of placards with the words 'Free Palestine' and 'Either you are against, or you are an accomplice' were displayed. The protest took place in silence. The participants remained behind the security cordon while the Head of State was inside the Castle.

Calm has returned between demonstrators and police forces on the Milan ring road, which is still blocked at the junction for Linate, heading north, and from Cologno, heading south. In fact, a part of the demonstrators continues to keep it blocked at the Cascina Gobba service station; another part, consisting of a few hundred people, is instead heading back towards the city, blocking the exit towards Via Padova.

More than 200,000 people demonstrated in Emilia-Romagna 'to protest against the blockade of the Global Sumud Flotilla and to demand a halt to the genocide in Gaza and the erasure of the Palestinian people by the Netanyahu government'. This was said by the regional CGIL. "The general strike had very high adhesion throughout the region, in Bologna for example in Tper 92% adhered, but more generally in all manufacturing sectors the adhesion was well above 50% with peaks of 80/90%. Schools closed, many public offices where only workers involved in the minimum essential services worked, and crowded squares throughout Emilia-Romagna, more than 100,000 in Bologna and more than 200,000 throughout the region,' explains regional general secretary Massimo Bussandri. (

Around twenty thousand people, according to the organisers, gathered today in the squares of Bari, Taranto, Foggia, Lecce, Barletta and Brindisi for a strike adhesion that in some cases exceeded 50%. Puglia thus responded to the mobilisation called by the CGIL and the grassroots unions in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the Palestinian people. In Bari, about eight thousand demonstrators left from the Lungomare promenade, led by representatives of the Palestinian community of Puglia and Basilicata. The procession continued peacefully even during the stop in front of the Israeli consulate building where whistles and chants including 'murderers' started. 'We did not choose Friday,' said the general secretary of the CGIL Puglia, Gigia Bucci, 'it came as a consequence of the events. The MEP and candidate for the centre-left for the presidency of the Puglia region, Antonio Decaro, stressed that the courage of the Flotilla crews 'has produced many more results than months of international politics'. Among the protesters were also the parents of Antonio La Piccirella and the mother of Lorenzo D'Agostino, the two Bari Flotilla activists detained by the Israeli navy on board the boats bound for Gaza. Singer-songwriter Caparezza was also in the procession: 'We are demonstrating for justice,' he said. For Ugl, the workers' strike adhesion rate, throughout Puglia, exceeded 50 per cent. According to the still partial data of the regional CGIL, the adhesion rate ranges between 20% in commerce and 40-50% in the agro-industry.

"Today's mobilisation was a success: more than 2 million people took to the streets to participate in the marches that took place in over 100 Italian cities for the national general strike in defence of the Flotilla, constitutional values, to stop the genocide and in support of the people of Gaza. 300 thousand people walked the streets of the capital'. This was announced by CGIL in a note. "According to the data received so far," the union continues, "the average national adhesion to the general strike is around 60%.

At least 80,000 people, according to the questura's estimate, are marching in Rome in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla and in solidarity with Palestine.

The procession promoted by the Marche social centres and the Usb mayor to 'block' the port of call started from the Da Chio gate of the port of Ancona. At the head a banner with the inscription: 'Genocide and extermination, Israel murderer. Free Palestine'. This was the second day of protests on the occasion of the general strike. Hundreds of demonstrators were present, and the snake began blocking the road leading to the Chio gate, the entrance and exit of trucks leaving and arriving at the port of Ancona.

"The overall adhesion of Atac employees to today's national strike, recorded in the morning, was 27.3%". This was announced by Atac in a note regarding the public transport strike in the city of Rome.

A message of peace this morning also from the regional council of Sardinia. The Palestinian flag flew from the highest floor of the palace in Via Roma during the procession of the demonstration also organised in Cagliari in favour of Palestine. The president of the regional council, Piero Comandini, was also in the procession: 'We have decided to display the Palestinian flag on the façade of the assembly building to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and to wish for peace. We must not lower our guard on what is happening in Gaza. In war there are never winners. Today is a day of reflection, the regional council is also close to the people, and especially the children, who are suffering from the wars'.

The demonstrators of today's second procession in support of the arrested activists of the Global Flotilla have occupied the platforms of the Genoa Principe railway station: the mobilisation is that of Usb, in the square together with Cub, dockworkers, autonomous, which started in the early afternoon from the Albertazzi gate and reached the railway station. The intention is to demonstrate permanently until 'we receive certain news about the return of the arrested activists'. Rail traffic, at least the circulating traffic since more than half of the trains are cancelled due to the general strike, is currently suspended.

Clashes between demonstrators and police in Bologna during the procession in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Some demonstrators forced the cordon to try to advance in the Tangenziale and the police carried out charges.

The agents charged the demonstrators who had taken part in the procession with batons. 'Shame on you' the protesters replied against the officers. Officers in riot gear threw tear gas at the demonstrators, who in turn threw objects at police and carabinieri. The police helicopter was also in action.

Images from Naples, where hundreds of people, at least 50,000 according to CGIL, marched in a procession for the general strike proclaimed by CGIL and Usb in defence of the Flotilla and for Gaza. The demonstrators then diverted their route from Piazza Plebiscito to enter via varco Immacolatella. Shouting 'Free Palestine' and 'We are all anti-Zionists' they headed towards the port. City traffic paralysed.

The procession ended at Piazza Mercato, touching different areas of the city on their way: from Piazza Mancini to Corso Umberto, as far as Via Vespucci. On the way, they also invaded an area where containers were crammed into the port. The procession blocked the entrance to the A3 motorway for several minutes. No tense moments were registered.

'It is since the Social Forum', November 2002, 'that we have not seen so many people in the square'. This is the comment of Rossano Rossi, secretary of the CGIL Toscana, on the participation in the demonstration that went through Florence, on the occasion of the general strike in solidarity for Palestine. Previously, the union had spoken of 100,000 attendances. "But the whole of Tuscany in the different cities has shown that consciences have been stirred," he added, "and that ordinary people consider unacceptable the genocide in Gaza, the inaction of the government, the race to rearmament, the drift towards war. Without humanity there is no justice, no democracy, no future, and today the world of work, the students, civil society demonstrated together sending a strong message: we want a future of peace and social justice'. So many people demonstrated today in the marches that took place in the provincial capitals of Tuscany (as many as four in Livorno, in addition to the capital also Portoferraio, Cecina and Piombino). For the secretary general of the Florence CGIL, Bernardo Marasco: 'Yes, it will be a long weekend... but for Premier Meloni. Florence gave a magnificent response, I thank each and every one of those who went on strike and participated in the demonstration, together we have given humanity back to Italy in the presence of a government that has done nothing to stop what is happening in Gaza, they even had the courage to accuse the peace activists of the Flotilla of not caring about the suffering of Palestinians in the Strip. We will always be in the squares with words of peace to build a future that is not that of the bullies of wars'.

'We are going on the motorway'. So say the demonstrators of the Roman procession in support of Gaza and the Sumud Flotilla, from the truck at the head of the procession, as they enter the A24 motorway.

From the northern carriageway of the occupied Milan ring road, protesters threw stones and small bottles at the police forces deployed on the opposite side. Police and carabinieri responded by throwing tear gas and the protesters retreated. So far there has been no contact between the parties.

'We are wonderful. We are 300,000'. This is what the Usb organisers said at the demonstration in Rome for the general strike for Palestine and the Flotilla, speaking only of the part of the procession run by the Usb union. The demonstrators moved towards the motorway.

On the occasion of today's proPal procession, the City of Bergamo displayed three flags on its façade: that of peace, that of Palestine, and that of Ukraine. 'Gaza continues to be a tormented place, where the civilian population pays the highest price of the invasion every day,' explained mayor Elena Carnevali. 'All that is left is rubble and the people living there are still under attack, condemned to forced exile in unlivable refugee camps. We must work with determination to achieve a ceasefire, the protection of the civilian population of Gaza, the unconditional release of the Israeli hostages, an end to the illegal occupation of the territories in the West Bank, full and safe access to humanitarian aid, and respect for international humanitarian law'.

'Today Basilicata responded with participation, with hundreds of citizens, workers and students at the parades in Potenza and Matera'. This is how the secretary of the CGIL Basilicata, Fernando Mega, told ANSA about the national general strike - underway - of all public and private sectors, called by the union 'in defence of the Flotilla, constitutional values and in support of the people of Gaza'.

At the end of the trade union march in Ferrara, which was attended by about 3,000 people, a group of about 300 activists broke away and headed towards the station, with the aim of occupying the railway yard. Police forces deployed in riot gear are guarding the entrances.

The antagonist and social section of the ongoing demonstrations in Turin went in front of the Leonardo headquarters on the edge of the city, in Collegno, armed with ladders to try to climb over the gates. They threw smoke bombs, torches and other objects at the police, deployed inside the plant area, and were repelled with tear gas. The course was blocked by the presence of the procession and the protesters are determined to try to enter again. A helicopter flew over the area.

After a few minutes of 'strolling' on the A12 motorway to block traffic, and stopping traffic in both directions at the Pisa Centro tollgate, the motorcade returned to the four-lane SGC to head - according to the demonstrators in the lead and announcing their moves from the megaphone - towards Pisa airport. Road traffic on the A12 is back to normal.

"Twenty thousand people in the squares of Puglia for the general strike testify to the sensitivity and attention of the world of work and civil society towards the tragedy of the Palestinian people and support for the mission of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Joining the strike entails an economic sacrifice and no long weekend: the premier evidently does not know the world of work'. This was stated in a note by the general secretary of Cgil Puglia, Gigia Bucci. 'In Gaza,' she continues, 'humanity is dying, international norms and resolutions are being violated. When the respect of laws by states is lacking, democracy itself is at risk'. "We," says Bucci, "contest the failure to defend the workers embarked on the Flotilla, arrested on Italian boats in international waters. All in defiance of our Constitution, which calls for the repudiation of war and solidarity between peoples'. The finger is also pointed at 'defence investments in the next three years, which will amount to 12 billion. This is not the road to peace, we need politics, we need diplomacy,' says Bucci. Giving an appointment "in Rome already on 25 October, for a national demonstration to launch and support our requests to the government with respect to the next economic manoeuvre, keeping the attention on Gaza high".

The procession is preparing to leave the occupied eastern ring road to demonstrate in support of the Global Summud Flotilla. The trade union truck turned to return to the city centre. But a group of protesters did not follow the procession and remained on the eastern ring road. Some of them hooded and covered in their faces headed towards the police to attack, even throwing stones. The riot police officers were forced to retreat. At the moment, the flow continues on the street.

In Messina, a group of demonstrators forced the entrance to the City Hall and hung a Palestine flag on the façade of the City Hall. To avoid disorder, the police closed the main entrance. Some activists remained locked in and others remained locked out and threatened to occupy the municipal building. Tension rose and the protesters asked the mayor of Messina Federico Basile to come out and take a stand. The first citizen immediately came down and took the floor: 'I accept this invitation and on my part there is no hostile attitude,' he said, 'but I ask you to continue to manage this protest, which is a legitimate act, as you have done so far.

The procession of Calp and Usb, which will start shortly from the Albertazzi gate, Genoa harbour, in the direction of Principe station, has set off. Thousands of people are in the procession. The organisers' declared objective is to 'seal off the station' until there is certain news on the fate of the arrested activists, but the need for 'careful' management of the square was also stressed, given the presence of so many people, including families and children.

The procession arrives at the end of the closed section on Milan's eastern bypass. Protesters' chants and music continue.

The procession in support of the Global Summud Flotilla arrives on Milan's eastern ring road.

The A14 motorway is closed in Bologna, between Borgo Panigale and San Lazzaro, after a march invaded the adjacent ring road. The motorway had been closed for precautionary reasons and some demonstrators invaded it. The Casalecchio junction between the A1 and the junction with the A14 was also closed. Thus, almost the entire Bologna motorway junction is currently blocked.

The procession of the general strike for Gaza that left this morning from the town hall square in Turin split into two blocks. Having arrived all together in Piazza Adriano, instead of turning onto Corso Ferrucci, following the planned route, the social section of Turin for Gaza went straight onto Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 'to go and block several points of the city'. Along the way, the demonstrators greeted some workers on scaffolding, who applauded in return.

Manifestanti dello spezzone antagonista di uno dei cortei in corso a Torino tenta di arrivare alle Officine grandi riparazioni, dov'è in corso Tech Week, attraverso l'area che ospita campus e incubatori del Politecnico, 03 ottobre 2025 ///// Pro-Palestine protesters block a road in front of the OGR event center ahead of the arrival of Jeff Bezos and Ursula von der Leyen for Italian Tech Week, in Turin, Italy, 03 October 2025. ANSA/TINO ROMANO

The procession arrives at the Milano Lambrate station, still in the direction of the eastern ring road. The long trail of people continues slowly ahead of the line of riot police officers.

Very high adhesion of metalworkers to the general strike called by the CGIL for today. Thousands went on strike and demonstrated throughout Italy to support the Global Sumud Flotilla and to stop the genocide of the Palestinian people. The data on the participation of women and men workers is extraordinary. In some companies the adherence to the general strike even exceeded 80%. Israel's violation of international law is of unprecedented gravity: it was an attack on the constitutional order to prevent humanitarian action and solidarity with the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. The Italian government should do what it has not done so far: vote sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu, block trade and military agreements with Israel, and recognise the State of Palestine. The workers have given great proof of democracy by fighting for peace, humanity and dignity. This was stated in a note by the national Fiom-Cgil.

"Many demonstrators don't even know what they are protesting about, they are anti-establishment, they are anti-government. It's a protest that has nothing to do with Gaza and the Palestinians". This was said by the Israeli ambassador in Rome, Jonathan Peled, on L'Aria che Tira on La7, responding to a question about the demonstrations in Italy. "I am very careful to label anti-Semitism, but without a doubt there is ignorance, fake news, incitement and radicalism, and also fanatical anarchists who unite to attack the establishment, to attack the Italian government. They shout 'Free Palestine', but they don't even know what they are shouting'.

Police activated water cannons and used tear gas to stop the advance towards the Interporto di Padova decided by some fringes of the protesters at the Pro Gaza and Flotilla procession in the Euganean city. The clash took place around 12.45pm. The demonstrators were dispersed and moved back a few dozen metres. The Questore of Padua, Marco Odorisio, was also at the scene.

In Naples, the procession for the strike in support of the Flotilla and Gaza is blocked in the port at the Pisacane gate. The demonstrators want to reach the commercial terminal but the police forces deployed in riot gear prevent them from passing the checkpoint. The organisers tried a negotiation to reach the next port gate, at the height of the Loreto Mare hospital, without success. The demonstrators are chanting the chorus 'open, open' and pro-Palestine slogans.

Manifestanti pro-palestinesi marciano e bloccano la strada durante uno sciopero nazionale indetto dal sindacato USB per condannare l'intercettazione da parte delle forze israeliane delle imbarcazioni della Global Sumud Flotilla che miravano a raggiungere Gaza e a rompere il blocco navale di Israele, a Napoli, Italia, 3 ottobre 2025. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Train circulation is suspended between the stations Firenze Campo Marte and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, on the Milan-Naples line, due to the presence of demonstrators on the line. High Speed, Intercity and Regional trains may be delayed. This was pointed out by the Italian Railways with regard to the obstruction of the railway in Florence by demonstrators from the ongoing strike when they passed by the Cure flyover, in the direction of Campo di Marte (stadium area). The obstructed line serves regional and long-distance trains. Fs technicians and also the Polfer are intervening on the tracks.

"We are not here for a walk. We want to block everything, to give a signal. We are going for the eastern bypass. The struggle continues'. This was said by Pietro Cusimano of USB Lombardia, who led the procession in Milan. Celebrating, after the announcement, those present. The demonstration, at the moment, has reached the intersection of Via Teodosio and Via Vallazze.

Forty thousand people, according to the organisers, marched this morning from the ferry terminal of the port of Genoa to Piazza de Ferrari to support the humanitarian operation of Global Sumud flotilla. A day of mobilisation that saw an initial procession of the CGIL, which will be followed in the afternoon by the demonstration called by Usb The CGIL procession, after meeting the Usb delegation, reached the causeway, which it travelled to Piazza Cavour from where the procession descended to meet in the city centre. In the square all the categories but also students from various Genoese schools.

The CGIL procession started from Piazza Vittorio and arrived in Piazza dei Cinquecento to join the other demonstrators. From Via Cavour the procession arrived with Palestinian flags and the chorus 'Free Palestine'.

Un momento della manifestazione per lo sciopero generale per Gaza a Roma, 3 ottobre 2025. ANSA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI

The Vicenza Est exit along the A4 Venice-Milan motorway is closed in both directions, together with the junctions and the Tangenziale Est, for the demonstration with a procession in favour of Gaza and the Flotilla. According to the organisers, the participation is 8/10 thousand people, guarded on sight by the security forces. Some demonstrators write slogans on the ground and announce that the blockade will continue at least throughout the morning.

At the Casa dello Studente Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan, the procession split. One part, the one led by the CGIL, turned right onto Via Giovanni Pascoli to reach the Politecnico in Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci. The remaining demonstrators continued straight on viale Romagna to reach piazzale Gabrio Piola. The latter group should then head towards the ring road.

The realities of the pro-Pal movement in Roma Est heading for Piazza dei Cinquecento blocked the Tiburtina bus station, preventing buses from entering and leaving the area. The police, taken by surprise, intervened with armoured trucks, dispersing the demonstrators through the station underground.

From 'We are all Palestinians' to 'Israel murderer of children'. Two young men, leading the procession in Milan, right in front of the CGIL van, lead the choruses with megaphones in hand. Messages both in support of the people of Gaza and against various political leaders, from Netanyahu to Trump. Between one chorus and another, songs like 'Bella Ciao' also start up, shouted loudly by the tens of thousands of protesters present. After an hour and a half, meanwhile, the flow has reached 500 metres from Città Studi. But many people are still standing at the starting point in Porta Venezia.

"Hands off the right to strike. We are with the workers'": this is how PD secretary Elly Schlein, on the sidelines of the CGIL parade, comments on the declarations of prime minister Giorgia Meloni and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini on the general strike called by the trade unions.

Two marches are blocking the entrance to Venice. One left the lagoon city and headed towards Mestre, along the Ponte della Libertà. The other has crossed Mestre and is heading towards Venice, along the same bridge. no incidents at the moment. There were many students, as well as workers from Marghera, not only from CGIL and Cobas. On the Mestre flyover, there were obvious inscriptions on the asphalt of 'Free Palestine' Other demonstrations are in progress in Treviso, in Padua (Interporto's activities were interrupted), in Thiene-Schio, where the A31 motorway tollgate was blocked, in Verona.

In Rome, the student procession is meeting with that organised by the CGIL and other trade unions, at the crossroads of Via Emanuele Filiberto and Viale Manzoni. "Students and Teachers against genocide", this is what is written on the banner at the head of the students' procession. In a context that remains serene, the demonstrators shout in chorus "Free Palestine until victory, free free Palestine".

The procession in support of the Flotilla and the Palestinian people started from Piazza Maggiore, continuing along Via Ugo Bassi. 'We don't do long weekends, we work all week for a thousand euros a month,' said Federico Serra of Usb addressing the government, before the start of the procession. "They cannot stop the crew of our anger. We are not accomplices,' continued the union delegate. 'Let's lower our weapons, let's raise wages and rights,' immediately after which the chorus 'let's block everything' began. Regarding last night's clashes, Serra comments that it was 'a popular demonstration with more than 10,000 people, it arrived near the station where tear gas started at eye level. The response is violence in the face of a popular movement'. A new day of mobilisation in Bologna for the general strike. In Bologna, the CGIL has arranged to meet in Piazza Malpighi at 9.00 a.m. and then proceed in procession towards Piazza Maggiore, where Usb has also called for a rally at 9.00 a.m. Potere al Popolo and university collectives are also expected to participate.

While thousands of students are marching in the direction of the Albertazzi port gate, the CGIL procession has also started, which from the ferry terminal has positioned itself in Via Milano to head to Piazza de Ferrari, passing through the causeway, with only a symbolic presence of Usb, which is organising another procession for this afternoon. The objective after a discussion between the local secretaries of CGIL and Usb Igor Magni and Maurizio Rimassa is to fill the squares for the whole day.

The procession in defence of Gaza started from Piazza Garibaldi in Naples. Thousands of people started the march with a large banner 'Free Palestine'. There were many flags of Usb, CGIL, Potere al Popolo and many Palestine flags.

The procession started at 9.35am from Porta Venezia in Milan. It was scheduled to start at 9am, but was delayed due to the continuous influx of people - especially groups of school children. Thousands were present, filling the streets with 'Free Palestine' messages and Palestine and Peace flags. There was no shortage of protests against members of the Italian government and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Lorenzo Pace)

Late last night, the student movement in Pisa, after the occupations of the Faculty of Letters and the Rector's Office of the University of Pisa, also occupied Palazzo della Carovana, which is the headquarters of the Scuola Normale Superiore. This was announced by the students in a note released during the night. "No place of education and knowledge production," they write, "can afford to remain silent in the face of genocide: this is why we have occupied the Scuola Normale Superiore. "We refuse - the students add - on the day of the general strike to let academic activities continue as if nothing had happened. It is unacceptable that the Normale continues to collaborate with Israeli universities involved in apartheid like Tel Aviv University".

Regular metro A and B lines in Rome during the second part of the general strike. This was announced by Atac, specifying that, instead, the Termini metro station was closed due to the holding of a demonstration, on the orders of the police. As far as line C is concerned, instead, closed for scheduled activities, replacement lines MC-MC3 will not be guaranteed until 5 p.m. Finally, service on the Termini-Centocelle railway line will continue.

(ANSA) - MILAN, 03 OCT - Milan's five metro lines remain open despite the general strike called for today by CGIL and Usb against the war in Gaza and in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla. In a note issued this morning, the Azienda Trasporti explained that "demonstrations and marches are affecting" tram and bus frequencies and that "several lines are being diverted" while trains on metro line 2 are skipping the Lambrate stop. For the Atm, the strike is scheduled from 8.45am to 3pm and then from 6pm to the end of service. (ANSA

"The squares will be packed. This humanitarian reaction of fraternity and solidarity is something to be proud of. It shows the humanity and will of decent people who want to stop a genocide and are doing what governments and states have pretended not to see or are even complicit in". This was said by the leader of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, interviewed on Radio Anch'io on the day of the general strike.

"Today's strike is illegitimate not because Salvini does not want it, but because the Technical Guarantee Commission has declared it illegitimate. Those who go on strike today know that they are going against the law and risk sanctions both personally and as trade unions'. This was said by the Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini to Mattino5. Salvini recalled that yesterday he proposed to the cdm a revision of the sanctions system. The idea is to 'ask for heavy penalties, not 1,000 or 2,000 euros'. "Landini organises it? Landini is paying for it,' he added.

Commercial traffic completely blocked in and out of the northern area of the port of Livorno with long queues of trucks and lorries trapped between the Genoa bridge and Via Leonardo da Vinci because of the pro-Pal demonstrators who, as announced by Usb, have invaded the carriageways of the major road junction in front of the Zara access gate to the port since 6 am this morning. The demonstrators placed barriers and lit fires to prevent the passage of vehicles including those carrying passengers to the ferries. Protests from truck drivers and motorists, but no one can pass through that area of the city.

Trains cancelled and delays ranging from 20 minutes to over five hours at Milan Centrale station for the general strike in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Same situation at Milano Garibaldi station, with cancellations and delays of up to 50 minutes, and at Milano Rogoredo station, where delays reach almost three hours. Billboards warn travellers of the strike and invite them to contact customer service for information

Trains cancelled and with delays of up to 80 minutes at Rome's Termini station on the day of the general strike called in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Monitors at the station warn passengers that until 8.59pm today, trains may be delayed or changed due to a national strike by staff of the Italian FS group, Italo and Trenord.