Protests erupted across Europe and Italian unions declared a nationwide strike after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.
Protests erupted across Europe late on Wednesday after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a convoy of more than 40 civilian boats carrying 532 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists from over 45 countries in an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza.
Demonstrations broke out in Berlin, Barcelona, Brussels, and Istanbul, while in Italy, protesters stormed the main railway station in Naples, halting train traffic. In Rome, police cordoned off Termini station after crowds gathered at its entrances, and in Genoa, activists announced plans to block the port.
The news also triggered a wave of industrial action. The Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which had pledged to strike if the flotilla was attacked, accused Israel of violating international law and declared a nationwide general strike for Friday. “Attacked the Global Sumud Fleet. Israel attacks international law. Now is the time to block everything,” the union said on X.
Italy’s largest trade union, CGIL, soon joined in, calling the assault on ships carrying Italian citizens “an extremely serious matter.”
Spontaneous protests are now underway in Rome, Italy, following news that Israeli forces have intercepted the #GlobalSumudFlotilla on its way to break the siege on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/aBTEDrkqzd
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 1, 2025
The general strike marks the second in Italy in support of Gaza within weeks, after USB called a previous solidarity strike on September 22, which turned violent in Milan.
Italian dockworkers have also been taking action in recent weeks, blocking ships they identified as linked to Israel.
The flotilla, loaded mainly with food and medicine, had set sail at the end of August and was due to reach Gaza on Thursday morning under normal conditions.
Its interception comes despite repeated warnings from Israel for the convoy to turn back, and reassurances from Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that Israeli officials would not use violence against participants.
The standoff at sea comes against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing war and blockade on Gaza.
Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 66,100 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The blockade, in place for nearly 18 years, was further tightened on March 2 when Israel closed all border crossings, preventing food, medicine, and aid from entering and pushing Gaza’s 2.4 million people into famine and disease.
(PC, Anadolu, Reuters)
Since intercepting vessels bound on a peaceful mission on the high seas is piracy, and piracy is a crime with universal jurisdiction, the Italian unions should also talk to criminal lawyers about dragging the Israeli consulates in the ports before the judge on complicity with piracy on the high seas, representing a nation that stoops to piracy, and such charges.