Hundreds of Thousands Join Nationwide Strike and Protests in Italy in Solidarity with Gaza

On Friday, November 28, 2025, Italy witnessed a nationwide general strike and widespread protests that brought significant parts of the country to a standstill. The action was called by grassroots and base trade unions, including USB, CUB, SGB, and others, amid a broader wave of mobilization opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the ongoing war.

Demonstrations and marches were held in dozens of cities across Italy, including major urban centers such as Rome, Genoa, Milan, Bologna, and Turin.

Protesters demanded a total military and arms embargo on Israel and called on the Italian government to end all political, diplomatic, and military support. These demands continued to resonate during follow-up marches and demonstrations held on Saturday, November 29, including a mass rally in Rome attended by tens of thousands of participants.

The days of action were joined and endorsed by well-known public figures, activists, and human rights advocates. Among them were Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories; Greta Thunberg; and a delegation of anti-Zionist rabbis, alongside many other international and Italian activists.

On November 27, the day before the strike, activists gathered in Genoa for a major preparatory meeting. The following day, November 28, Genoa became one of the focal points of the national strike, with a mass demonstration drawing large crowds. During the rally, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss addressed the public and the media following several other speakers. The march that followed was loud, clear, and resolute, reflecting the determination of the movement.

Mobilizations continued over the weekend. On Saturday, November 30, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Rome, the capital of Italy, in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. For hours, the city was under near-total lockdown as vast crowds marched through the streets, demanding an immediate end to the war, a full arms embargo on Israel, and justice for the Palestinian people.

After the conclusion of the Jewish holiday of Shabbos, at sunset, Rabbi Dovid Feldman addressed the massive crowd, delivering a speech that was met with strong support and applause.