'Starting to be very afraid': Across Italy Palestinian Demonstrations Increase Pressure on Meloni

A piercing chorus of blaring horns and dockworkers chanting “you are not welcome” welcomed an Israel-linked cargo vessel when it arrived in the Tuscan port city this week.

For two days, the striking dockworkers stood their ground, refusing to handle the ship’s cargo in a display of defiant solidarity for Palestinians and the Global Sumud flotilla attempting to bring aid to the besieged territory. The action was a triumph and the ship, bound for the US and Canada, left the port.

Nationwide Port Actions Spread

From northern ports in the northern region, to Salerno and Taranto in the south, in recent weeks dock laborers across Italy have succeeded in blocking ships suspected to be carrying weapons for Israel, as opposition to the conflict in the Gaza Strip grows stronger.

The workers’ resolve to prevent arms shipments and disrupt commerce has been a key element of the solidarity movement in Italy as demands mounts on Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to adopt a firmer position against Israel.

“Israel is carrying out an extermination of civilians in the Gaza Strip – by taking lives, by depriving them of food,” said a port employee, Luca Simoni. “We must not stay silent. We have historically been a harbor of refuge, not one of conflict. We will keep demonstrating until this war ends.”

National Walkout Adds Tension

On the end of the week, many people demonstrated after Italy’s largest trade union called the second general strike in less than two weeks, shutting educational institutions, disrupting transport and causing disruption on public transport and in healthcare. There were also impromptu demonstrations on Wednesday night after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and detained hundreds of activists, including the well-known activist the environmental advocate.

The incident in Livorno was the initial instance an vessel from Israel carrying general merchandise had been prevented from docking.

Popular Sentiment and Government Reaction

Latest polls show strong backing among Italians – including a considerable portion of voters of Meloni’s ruling coalition – for the recognition of a Palestinian state and in favor of the humanitarian convoy.

Meloni has spoken against Israel’s killing of Palestinians in the past few months, describing it as a “excessive” reaction to the militant group’s assault, and has opened up to the country recognizing a sovereign Palestine, albeit with caveats. But she continues trying to maintain the delicate balance between being one of Israel’s staunchest allies in the European Union and a ally of Arab nations, all the while following the policies of the US president, the former president.

Still, she is mindful of public opinion, especially with Italy in the midst of multiple local votes, and has sought to use the demonstrations and flotilla to attack her leftwing opponents.

The Prime Minister has described the convoy as “dangerous and irresponsible” and, despite the humanitarian mission involving hundreds of activists from various nations, she said it was only aimed at “creating problems” for her administration. She criticized the national walkout, accusing Italians of undertaking “a long weekend masquerading as a revolution” while claiming the event was organized for political reasons and offered no real benefit to Gaza.

“The current administration can only remain in power with scapegoats,” claimed Gianfranco Francese, who leads the local branch of the major trade union. “There is also a great contradiction between what Meloni says and what she implements,” he added. “She speaks of being a great patriot, a religious person and a parent, but she has not undertaken any political or diplomatic action to stop the massacre of women and children.”

Political Stability Amid Unrest

But despite the widespread popular feeling shown through the series of pro-Palestinian protests, Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party remains ahead in surveys, at approximately thirty percent, and she has led an unusually steady Italian government since coming to power in October 2022.

“On one hand, there is the majority of the population in solidarity with Palestinians which wants an end to the conflict,” said a political analyst, a co-founder of a polling firm. “But you won’t observe the impact of this when it time to cast ballots.”

The analyst referred to last week’s elections in the Marche region where the governing alliance secured a another term. The similar result is anticipated in votes in Veneto and Calabria.

Pregliasco said there was “a genuine danger of the [Gaza] movement having too much of a partisan association, which would alienate people who are appalled with the violence but who are not pro-Palestinian militants”.

Analyst Perspectives

Nadia Urbinati at an American university and the University of Bologna, said the explanation why the consequences of the protests were not being seen in voting was because only around fifty percent of the electorate go to the polls.

“And those who do, vote for the right,” she said, explaining that the Prime Minister could easily use the protests to disarm opponents.

She said every spontaneous movement of the public was vulnerable to being penetrated by opposing groups, and suggested that this had been happening in order to “discredit and suppress” the Gaza movement.

Medical Community Join

Susanna Romitelli in the capital, has joined multiple demonstrations in the Italian capital and participated in the rally near a central square on Friday.

“Last night, there was an event held in medical facilities during which we honored the thousands of medics who died in the conflict zone while trying to help people,” she stated. “It was a very touching moment and we will continue to mobilise. You might not see it in political polls yet, but I believe this government is becoming deeply concerned of the people.”