Protests have erupted in Italy following Israel’s interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza, according to reports by Al Jazeera TV. Demonstrations spread across major Italian cities as trade unions organized a general strike on Friday to express solidarity with the flotilla. In Rome alone, police estimated 10,000 participants attended the protests. Similar actions were reported in Berlin, The Hague, Tunis, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and Istanbul, where protesters gathered at Israeli embassies carrying signs demanding an end to “the occupation.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla, led by climate activist Greta Thunberg, faced repeated confrontations with Israeli forces. On September 10, the flotilla’s main vessel was attacked by Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles off the coast of Tunisia. The Israeli Foreign Ministry later stated it planned to deport activists from the mission, asserting all participants were “healthy and safe.” Meanwhile, humanitarian supplies for Gaza remain severely restricted, with essential goods largely blocked from reaching the region.
