22 Sept 2025 – General Strike in Italy against the genocide in Gaza
On 12 September in Genoa, a large community gathering issued a call for a general strike demanding to “Break off all relations with Israel”. The gathering was led by the dockers and the grassroots union USB (Unione Sindacale di Base), with the participation of trade unionists and community organizers, coming from various parts of Italy.
Genoa dockers rally 31 August 2025.
The dockers promised that “not even a nail” will go out from the port of Genoa to Israel if they touch the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The dockers and the wider movement in Genoa have been blocking cargo bound for Israel for months, following the successful blockade of a ship carrying fighter jet components in Morocco in April and a similar blocade in Marseille.
On September 22nd, the day of the strike, people said “Blocchiamo tutto” “We block everything” – and they did.
It was an unprecedented historic event. Dockers, school children, fire fighters, taxi drivers, teachers, transport workers, everyone, women and men, mothers and fathers with their children went on strike all over the country, from large cities to rural towns.
This strike was special because 1) it had an openly political motivation 2) people went on strike for something not happening in Italy, joining the international movement against the genocide in Gaza.
WATCH 14min video round up of the Strike in several towns, produced by the grassroots union USB (English captions available)
There were actions in 85 towns, including:
Termoli, small provincial town in Central Italy, thousands of school students march for Palestine
Ancona, Central Italy, School students demonstrate
Venice. Banner reads PALESTINE – Block the weapons
| “What is happening in these hours forces us, compels us to take to the streets. And this is what is fortunately happening not only here in Rome, but also in Milan, Bologna, Turin, Cosenza and Naples, also in Genoa and in many other cities. There is an entire country that is waking up and that around the struggle for free Palestine, is rediscovering the desire for freedom for us too.” USB trade-unionist |
Follow the movement in Italy:
- il manifesto (newspaper)
- USB on Instagram and X
“Block Everything” continues to grow internationally
On 25 September the Italian government announced that they are sending a second war ship to protect the Flotilla, only to withdraw them subsequently. Spain, Greece, and Turkey also sent ships. Three hundred employees of the Foreign Office signed a letter expressing their “deep unease” about the policy of the Italian government on Gaza. As the Flotilla nears Gaza, the Italian government is encouraging participants to abandon their mission before reaching the so-called “critical zone”, which the Flotilla absolutely rejects as “sabotage”.
Violence alert in Palestine: “It seems that in Milan they even broke two shop windows.” – “No, really?!”
Meanwhile strikes and blockades continue from one end of Italy to the other – last Wednesday the “No Harbour for Genocide” campaign successfully blocked jet fuel from being loaded onto a ship in the port of Taranto en route to Israel. A general strike was called in Trieste when an Israeli ship arrived at the port. Palestine Action activists chained themselves to the gates of arms manufacturer Leonardo near Milan. Something is happening every day all over the country.
Student unions not only in Italy but also France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have announced they will stop classes if the Flotilla is stopped. Spain has banned US military shipments bound for Israel from passing through its Rota and Morón bases.
In the US, responding to the global call from the movement in Italy, hundreds blocked trucks from entering Oakland port on 19 September as kayaks in the water blocked shipping vessels. More information: Oakland blockade 19 Sep
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) protest with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) at Oakland airport on 24 Sep 2025 (during Jewish high holidays). Protests at Oakland airport have erupted after it came out that at least 280 arms shipments have been shipped to Israel’s Nevatim Airbase out of this commercial airport.
Compiled, translated and circulated by Payday, a network of men campaigning with the Global Women’s Strike SEPTEMBER 2025