General Strike for Gaza: Protests and Blockades in Florence

A nationwide general strike called by grassroots trade unions in support of Gaza is unfolding across Italy, with demonstrations and disruptions also taking place in Florence and its surroundings. The protest, which began at midnight and will continue until late in the evening, affects all sectors from railways to local transport, schools, ports, and public services.

In Florence, students from the Machiavelli Capponi high school gathered outside the school building early in the morning, blocking access and marching across Ponte Santa Trinita. Their demonstration continued in a corteo toward the United States consulate, chanting slogans for a free Palestine. According to the organizers, hundreds of students took part, describing the protest as a way to break the “routine of indifference” and to launch a broader, permanent mobilization.

Meanwhile, thousands of people joined a large march in Calenzano, near Florence, at the entrance of the A1 highway. The protest, organized by unions, student groups, and civic associations, blocked the motorway exit for more than an hour, causing significant traffic disruption. A massive Palestinian flag was displayed on the “Wheel of Time,” a monumental work by Israeli artist Dani Karavan that dominates the Calenzano roundabout. The corteo then headed toward Campi Bisenzio and Capalle, with the declared aim of passing by the headquarters of Leonardo, one of Italy’s main defense companies, and the former Gkn plant.

The strike also had visible repercussions on everyday services. In a rare move, the Florence-based energy company Beyfin announced the closure of all its fuel stations for the day, both attended and self-service, to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian population. The company explained that such a decision had never been taken in its history but was necessary as a visible sign of dissent against the war.

The protest will continue throughout the day with further initiatives, including a gathering at the University of Florence. Similar actions have taken place in Pisa, where thousands marched toward the airport and later occupied the Florence-Pisa-Livorno highway, and in Livorno, where demonstrators blocked access to the port.

In Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, and Livorno have become some of the main centers of protest, highlighting how the conflict in Gaza continues to resonate strongly in Italian civic life.

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