Thousands of Italian workers and students staged a nationwide general strike and demonstrations on 21 September. Organised by grassroots unions and supported by Italy’s largest trade union, CGIL, the walkout disrupted public transport, trains, schools, and ports. Major cities such as Rome and Milan experienced severe transit delays, while sit-ins at Genoa and Livorno ports slowed the movement of goods. The action, which followed a similar strike the previous day, was called to protest about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel’s blockade of aid, and threats against the Global Sumud Flotilla mission. USB, a key union federation, criticised the government and the EU for refusing to impose sanctions on Israel and for maintaining economic ties despite ongoing violence. Rome authorities reported about 20,000 demonstrators at midday near Termini station, though organisers said there were up to 100,000. Meanwhile, Giorgia Meloni’s government faces rising domestic pressure over its stance on the Israel-Hamas war.