'Becoming deeply concerned': Italy's Gaza Protests Raise Political Strain on Prime Minister Meloni

A piercing sound of honking vehicles and port employees chanting “we don’t want you” greeted an Israeli-owned cargo vessel when it docked in Livorno this week.

For two days, the protesting port laborers stood their ground, refusing to unload and reload the vessel’s freight in a display of defiant solidarity for Palestinians and the Global Sumud flotilla attempting to deliver aid to the besieged territory. The protest was a triumph and the ship, bound for the United States and Canada, left the port.

Countrywide Port Actions Expand

From Genoa, Trieste and Ravenna in the north, to southern harbors in the south, in the past few weeks dock laborers across Italy have succeeded in blocking vessels suspected to be transporting arms for the Israeli military, as opposition to the conflict in the Gaza Strip grows stronger.

The workers’ resolve to block weapons and stifle trade has been a key element of the pro-Palestinian uprising in the nation as pressure increases on Prime Minister Meloni’s far-right government to take a stronger stance against Israel.

“The Israeli military is conducting an extermination of people in Gaza – by killing them, by starving them,” said a port employee, Luca Simoni. “We must not stay silent. We have historically been a port of welcome, not one of conflict. We will keep demonstrating until this hostilities concludes.”

National Walkout Adds Pressure

On the end of the week, many people took to the streets after Cgil called the latest nationwide walkout in less than two weeks, closing schools, disrupting transport and creating delays on mass transit and in healthcare. There were also impromptu demonstrations on Wednesday night after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and arrested hundreds of activists, including the prominent campaigner Greta Thunberg.

The incident in the Tuscan port was the initial instance an Israeli ship transporting general merchandise had been blocked.

Public Opinion and Political Response

Recent surveys show significant support among Italians – including a substantial share of voters of Meloni’s ruling coalition – for the establishment of a Palestinian state and in support of the humanitarian convoy.

Meloni has spoken against Israel’s killing of Palestinian people in the past few months, describing it as a “disproportionate” reaction to the militant group’s assault, and has opened up to Italy recognising a sovereign Palestine, albeit with caveats. But she continues trying to walk a fine line between being one of Israel’s staunchest allies in the European Union and a ally of Arab nations, all the while aligning with the policies of the American leader, the former president.

Still, she is mindful of voter sentiment, especially with the country in the midst of several regional elections, and has attempted to use the demonstrations and aid mission to attack her leftwing opponents.

The Prime Minister has characterized the flotilla as “risky and reckless” and, despite the humanitarian mission involving hundreds of activists from various nations, she said it was only aimed at “creating problems” for her administration. Meloni took a swipe at the national walkout, accusing participants of undertaking “a extended break masquerading as a political uprising” while claiming the strike was politically orchestrated and provided little help to the people of Gaza.

“The current administration can only survive with scapegoats,” claimed Gianfranco Francese, who heads the local branch of the major trade union. “There is also a significant inconsistency between what the Prime Minister claims and what she does,” he continued. “She talks about being a great patriot, a Christian and a mother, but she has not taken any political or diplomatic action to stop the killing of women and children.”

Government Standing Amid Unrest

But despite the strong public sentiment reflected by the wave of pro-Palestinian protests, the ruling party continues to lead in polls, at around 30%, and she has headed an unusually steady Italian government since coming to power in late 2022.

“From one perspective, there is the larger part of public opinion in supporting Gaza which wants an cessation to the war,” explained a political analyst, a co-founder of a polling firm. “But you don’t see the impact of this when it comes to vote.”

The analyst mentioned recent regional votes in the Marche region where Meloni’s coalition won a another term. The same outcome is anticipated in votes in Veneto and Calabria.

He said there was “a genuine danger of the pro-Palestinian activism having an overly strong of a leftwing identity, which would alienate people who are horrified with the war but who are not pro-Palestinian militants”.

Expert Perspectives

A political scientist at an American university and the University of Bologna, said the explanation why the consequences of the protests were not being seen in elections was because barely half of the electorate go to the polls.

“And those who do, support conservative parties,” she added, explaining that the Prime Minister could readily use the protests to weaken rivals.

She said every spontaneous movement of the public was susceptible to being penetrated by antagonists, and suggested that this had been occurring in order to “discredit and suppress” the solidarity campaign.

Medical Community Participate

Susanna Romitelli in Rome, has joined several demonstrations in the city and participated in the protest near a central square on the strike day.

“Recently, there was an event held in Italy’s hospitals during which we remembered the many healthcare workers killed in the conflict zone while trying to help people,” she stated. “It was a very touching moment and we will keep organizing. You might not see it in election surveys yet, but I think this administration is becoming deeply concerned of us.”