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Italians go on the streets to protest against Gaza flotilla

On Friday, tens of thousands Italians marched in the streets of the country as part of the day-long general strikes called by the unions to support a flotilla of aid carrying food to Gaza which was intercepted this week by Israel.

After what I saw on the flotilla I felt I couldn't stand by and just do nothing. Mario Mascetti is a protester from Rome who said, "It's my first time going to such demonstrations."

The CGIL union organized demonstrations in over 100 cities. The crowds in the capital marched with union and Palestinian flags as well as banners from central Piazza del Vittorio to the main train station.

There were delays and cancellations on the Italian rail network. However, there were fewer disruptions in airports. Metro lines were still operating in Rome and Milan.

This is not any strike. "We're here to defend brotherhood between individuals and peoples, put humanity back in the center, to say no genocide, a policy of rearmament," CGIL Leader Maurizio landini said. Israel called the aid float a stunt, and offered to send aid into Gaza on the boats. It has denied all allegations of genocide.

The right-wing government of Italy has condemned the strike. Prime Minister Giorgia Melloi suggested that those who skipped work to go to Gaza were just using it as an excuse for a longer holiday.

Italy has been the epicenter of protests to show solidarity with the convoy trying to break Israel’s naval blockade.

Mattia Diletti is a sociologist at Rome's Sapienza University. He said that the Palestinian cause has always resonated with Italians, including the majority-Catholics and the left.

He said, "Italy is a country that has always been very political and characterized by this element."

The National Strike Watchdog stated on Thursday that unions did not give enough notice of their strike.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are expected to continue Saturday with a large rally in Rome. This will cap off several days' worth of protests, which have often turned violent with clashes with the police.

On Thursday evening, tens and thousands of people peacefully marched from Rome's Colosseum. In Turin, a conference center was vandalised, and in Milan, graffiti and red paint were daubed on a statue in front of the Duomo Cathedral. (Writing and editing by Sharon Singleton; Alvise Armellini)

(source: Reuters)