On October 20, 2025, Italy witnessed a wave of solidarity rarely seen in recent years, as thousands of workers and students poured into the streets and downed their tools for a 24-hour general strike. The message was clear: support for the Palestinians in Gaza and a call for attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The strike, called by Italy's grassroots unions, rippled through both public and private sectors, disrupting public transportation, halting trains, closing schools, and even affecting activity in the country's vital ports, according to reports from multiple Italian news outlets.
Italy's response to the Gaza conflict has been marked by a groundswell of activism, and Monday's general strike was just the latest—and perhaps most visible—expression of that sentiment. Streets in major cities, from Rome to Milan and Naples, filled with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and chanting for peace. Students, teachers, dockworkers, and transit employees stood side by side, united in their demand for an end to the violence in Gaza and for the Italian government to take a more pronounced stance on the issue.
This mass mobilization did not emerge in a vacuum. Just weeks earlier, on October 3, 2025, another general strike had swept through Italy, this time in direct response to the Israeli navy's blockade of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels. That action, which also sparked demonstrations in Sardinia, was a pointed protest against what activists described as collective punishment of Gaza's civilians. According to Unioneonline, the October 3 strike was organized by a coalition of unions, including Cobas Sardegna, CGIL, USB, CUB, SGB, Cobas, and Cib Unicobas.
Yet, the October 3 strike quickly drew the attention—and ire—of Italy's Strike Guarantee Commission. On October 22, 2025, the Commission announced it had opened formal proceedings to evaluate the conduct of the unions that organized the earlier protest. The crux of the issue? Whether the unions had complied with Italy's strict legal requirements for announcing strikes, particularly in essential public services.
According to the Commission's official statement, the unions had been previously warned—on October 2, the day before the strike—about their failure to provide the legally mandated notice as outlined in Law 146/90. This law, enacted in 1990, was designed to balance the right to strike with the need to ensure continuity in essential services like transport and healthcare. It requires unions to give advance notice of industrial action, except in very narrowly defined circumstances.
The unions, for their part, argued that their actions were justified under Article 2, paragraph 7 of the law, which allows strikes without notice in cases of defending the constitutional order or protesting serious events that threaten the safety and security of workers. However, as the Commission made clear, it found this argument unconvincing. The statement read, "The reference to Article 2, paragraph 7, which provides for the possibility of carrying out strikes without notice only 'in cases of abstention from work in defense of the constitutional order, or of protest for serious events detrimental to the safety and security of workers,' is deemed irrelevant in this case."
This legal wrangling underscores the tension between Italy's robust tradition of labor activism and the regulatory frameworks designed to maintain public order. The unions named in the Commission's proceedings—among them some of the country's most prominent grassroots organizations—now face scrutiny that could result in penalties or restrictions on future strike actions. For many activists, however, the risk is worth it when the stakes are as high as they believe them to be in Gaza.
Monday's strike and demonstrations were not limited to the unionized workforce. Students and teachers joined en masse, with many schools shuttered for the day. Public transport in cities like Turin and Florence was severely curtailed, and ports in Genoa and Palermo reported significant slowdowns. For commuters and businesses, the disruption was impossible to ignore. Yet, for those on the picket lines, the inconvenience was a necessary price to pay for raising awareness and pressuring both national and international authorities to act.
The Italian public remains divided on the strikes, reflecting a broader debate about the country's role in international conflicts and the limits of protest. Some political leaders, particularly those from centrist and right-leaning parties, have criticized the strikes as irresponsible and potentially harmful to Italy's economy and international reputation. Others, especially on the left, have defended the actions as a legitimate and necessary response to what they see as a grave injustice unfolding in Gaza.
"We cannot remain silent while civilians suffer," one protester in Rome told local media, echoing the sentiments of many participants. "Our government must do more, and if it takes a strike to get their attention, then so be it." Such statements highlight the moral urgency felt by many Italians, even as the legal and political battles over the right to strike continue.
The actions in Italy are part of a broader pattern of European solidarity with Gaza, as similar demonstrations and strikes have taken place in France, Spain, and other countries. Yet, Italy's strikes stand out for their scale and the degree of disruption caused to everyday life. For many observers, this is a testament to the enduring power of organized labor and grassroots activism in Italian society.
As the Strike Guarantee Commission moves forward with its proceedings, the outcome could have significant implications for future protests. If the unions are found to have violated the law, they could face fines or other sanctions, potentially chilling further industrial action. On the other hand, a finding in favor of the unions could embolden activists and set a precedent for future strikes on issues of international concern.
For now, the streets of Italy have quieted, but the debate continues. The events of October 20 and the earlier strike on October 3 have left an indelible mark on the national conversation about solidarity, protest, and the responsibilities of a democratic society in the face of global crises. As one union leader put it, "We will not be silent. Our struggle is not just for ourselves, but for justice everywhere."
The coming weeks will reveal whether Italy's institutions are prepared to accommodate this wave of activism—or whether the clash between law and conscience will only intensify.
