Massive protests broke out in parts of Italy on Monday as tens of thousands of people protested as part of a day of action to “denounce the genocide in Gaza”, after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
said her country will not recognise the Palestinian state for now.
The demonstrations came on the same day as France and other countries prepared to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following recognition by the UK, Australia and Canada on Sunday.
Unconfirmed reports on social media claimed more than 60 cops were injured in the clashes.
Blockades, strikes, and marches were seen on roads, as hundreds of people clashed with the local police in Milan.
Videos on social media showed a sea of people in different cities of the countries, raising banners and shouting slogans.
🇮🇹 Pro-Palestinian vandals have launched a major riot in Italy following the Meloni government’s refusal to recognize Palestine.
Striking dockworkers blocked access roads to ports in Italy in order to prevent Italy from being used as a staging post for the transfer of arms and… pic.twitter.com/khwIGYEXR4
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 22, 2025
In Rome, some 20,000 people gathered in front of the main Termini train station, according to local police, many of them students, shouting “Free Palestine!” and holding up Palestinian flags.
Some had marched via the Colosseum, those at the front holding up a giant banner saying “Against Genocide. Let’s block everything.”
⚡️🇮🇹BREAKING:
Italy is holding a powerful 24-hour national strike demanding an end to Italian arms sales to Israel, sanctions, to ending the genocide and justice for Palestine.
Footage from the top of Termini station in Rome.pic.twitter.com/KRLFHY4glE
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) September 22, 2025
In the northern city of Milan, where organisers said 50,000 people turned out, protesters burned a US flag, according to AFP.
Some demonstrators clashed with anti-riot police at Milan’s central train station, with police throwing teargas and protestors launching projectiles and smashing windows.
In Bologna, more than 10,000 took to the streets, according to local police, with a group of demonstrators blocking the motorway before being dispersed by water cannons.
Protests also took place in Turin, Florence, Naples and Sicily, while in Genoa and Livorno, dock workers blockaded port entrances, the Italian media reported.
The USB union organised a 24-hour national strike to demand that the government break off relations with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Local buses and the metro service were disrupted in Rome, while national train operators also warned of delays and cancellations.
WHAT ITALY’S GOVERNMENT SAYS
Meloni’s government, which is ideologically close to US President Donald Trump, has condemned Israel’s relentless assault on the besieged Palestinian territory.
It says it had not sold any Italian weapons to Israel since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas inside Israel.
However, it has said it will not recognise a Palestinian state for now and has also expressed reluctance about implementing the European Union’s proposed trade sanctions on Israel.
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