Thousands March in Florence as Italy Joins Pro-Palestinian Strike

Florence saw thousands of demonstrators take to the streets today, October 3, 2025, in support of Palestine and the Global Sumud Flotilla, coinciding with the nationwide general strike called by the USB and CGIL unions.

The march began in the morning near the Fortezza da Basso, led by a massive Palestinian flag and a banner reading “Stop Zionism with resistance.” Participants included grassroots unions, high school and university students, associations, movements, and delegations from CGIL. Chanting “Free Palestine” and “Stop genocide,” the procession moved along viale Lavagnini toward Campo di Marte, blocking traffic on the main boulevards and halting tram service toward San Marco.

The route passed through piazza della Libertà, viale Don Minzoni, the Cure overpass, and viale dei Mille, before reaching its final destination at the Franchi Stadium’s Maratona entrance.

Florence was not the only Tuscan city to witness protests. In Pisa, students occupied the Scuola Normale Superiore during the night, after earlier actions at the Faculty of Letters and the Rector’s offices of the University of Pisa. The occupiers declared that no institution of learning should remain silent in the face of what they called genocide, criticizing the school’s collaborations with Israeli universities.

In Livorno, protesters blocked all commercial traffic into and out of the city’s northern port area from the early morning hours. Demonstrators set up barricades and lit fires at the Zara gate entrance, leaving long lines of trucks and heavy vehicles stranded between Ponte Genova and via Leonardo da Vinci. The blockade also affected passenger access to ferries, causing frustration among drivers and commuters.

The coordinated demonstrations across Tuscany reflected a broader day of mobilization throughout Italy, combining labor union demands with solidarity actions for Gaza.

Updates: Railway Blocked During Protest

The march in Florence escalated as protesters climbed over fences at the Cure overpass and occupied the railway tracks of the Milan–Rome line. Construction barriers were thrown onto the tracks, while smoke flares and firecrackers were set off.

Rail traffic between Firenze Campo di Marte and Santa Maria Novella was suspended, affecting regional, Intercity, and high-speed trains on the north–south axis. Railway technicians and police units intervened on site.

According to police estimates, around 10,000 people joined the demonstration, while CGIL described it as “oceanic,” claiming as many as 100,000 participants. The head of the march was reported at the Cure overpass while the tail was still in viale Lavagnini, showing the scale of the procession.

Updates: Pisa airport closed

The general strike and pro-Palestinian demonstrations on October 3 brought tens of thousands of people into the streets of Florence and across Tuscany. USB estimated around 70,000 participants in Florence, while CGIL spoke of numbers not seen since the 2002 Social Forum, pointing to as many as 100,000.

In Pisa, protesters broke through police barriers and occupied the runway and aprons at Galileo Galilei airport, forcing the suspension of all operations. Demonstrations also took place in other Tuscan cities, including Livorno, Portoferraio, Cecina and Piombino.

Union leaders described the protests as a spontaneous, broad-based response that united workers, students and civil society against the war in Gaza, calling for peace, justice and an end to what they described as complicity in the ongoing violence.

Support Florence Daily News

If you liked this article, please consider supporting Florence Daily News.

We are an independent news site, free from paywalls and intrusive ads, committed to providing clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your support — whether a small one-time gift or a regular contribution — helps us stay independent and keep telling the stories that matter.

Donate securely via Stripe below.