'Growing increasingly fearful': Italy's Palestinian Demonstrations Increase Pressure on Prime Minister Meloni

A deafening sound of blaring horns and port employees shouting “you are not welcome” welcomed an Israel-linked container ship when it arrived in Livorno this week.

For 48 hours, the protesting dockworkers stood their ground, declining to handle the ship’s cargo in a display of strong support for Palestinians and the Global Sumud flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to the besieged territory. The protest was successful and the vessel, bound for the US and Canada, left the port.

Nationwide Port Protests Expand

From Genoa, Trieste and Ravenna in the north, to Salerno and Taranto in the south, in recent weeks dock laborers across Italy have succeeded in obstructing ships suspected to be carrying arms for Israel, as resistance to the country’s war 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 mounts on Prime Minister Meloni’s far-right government to take a stronger stance against the Israeli government.

“The Israeli military is conducting an extermination of people in Gaza – by killing them, by starving them,” said a port employee, one protester. “We cannot remain indifferent. We have always been a port of welcome, not one of war. We will continue protesting until this hostilities ends.”

General Strike Adds Pressure

On the end of the week, thousands demonstrated after Cgil called the second general strike in less than two weeks, closing schools, stalling traffic and causing disruption on mass transit and in medical services. There were also impromptu demonstrations on Wednesday night after Israeli forces stopped the aid convoy and detained hundreds of activists, including the well-known activist Greta Thunberg.

The incident in Livorno was the initial instance an Israeli ship carrying general merchandise had been blocked.

Popular Sentiment and Political Response

Recent surveys show strong backing among Italians – including a considerable portion of supporters of the governing alliance – for the recognition of a Palestinian state and in favor of the humanitarian convoy.

The Prime Minister has criticised the deaths caused by Israel of Palestinians in the past few months, casting it as a “excessive” reaction to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks, and has expressed willingness to the country recognizing a sovereign Palestine, though with conditions. But she still attempts to maintain the delicate balance between being one of Israel’s staunchest allies in the European Union and a ally of Arab nations, all the while aligning with the line of the American leader, the former president.

Still, she is mindful of public opinion, especially with the country in the throes of several regional elections, and has sought to exploit the demonstrations and aid mission to criticize her political rivals.

The Prime Minister has characterized the convoy as “risky and reckless” and, despite the humanitarian mission involving many participants from different countries, she said it was only aimed at “causing difficulties” for her administration. She took a swipe at Friday’s general strike, accusing Italians of undertaking “a long weekend disguised as a revolution” while stating the strike was organized for political reasons and offered no real benefit to Gaza.

“The Meloni government can only survive with scapegoats,” claimed Gianfranco Francese, who leads the Livorno unit of Cgil. “There is also a significant inconsistency between what Meloni claims and what she does,” he added. “She talks about being a devoted nationalist, a religious person and a parent, but she has not taken any official steps to stop the killing of women and children.”

Government Standing Despite Unrest

But despite the strong public sentiment shown through the series of solidarity demonstrations, the ruling party continues to lead in polls, at approximately thirty percent, and she has headed an uncharacteristically stable national administration since coming to power in late 2022.

“On one hand, there is the larger part of public opinion in solidarity with Gaza which desires an cessation to the war,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, a founder of a polling firm. “But you won’t observe the effects of this when it comes to vote.”

Pregliasco referred to last week’s elections in the central area where Meloni’s coalition won a another term. The same outcome is expected in elections in Veneto and Calabria.

He said there was “a genuine danger of the pro-Palestinian activism having an overly strong of a partisan association, which would alienate individuals who are appalled with the violence but who are not pro-Palestinian militants”.

Expert Insights

A political scientist at New York’s Columbia University and the University of Bologna, said the reason why the consequences of the protests were not being seen in voting was because only around fifty percent of the electorate go to the polls.

“And the ones who vote, vote for the right,” she added, noting that Meloni could easily leverage the protests to weaken opponents.

She said any grassroots activism of the public was susceptible to being infiltrated by antagonists, and suggested that this had been occurring in order to “criminalise and repress” the Gaza movement.

Medical Professionals Participate

A cardiologist in Rome, has attended multiple demonstrations in the city and marched in the rally near Piazza Vittorio on Friday.

“Recently, there was an initiative held in Italy’s hospitals during which we honored the many healthcare workers who died in Gaza while trying to help people,” she said. “It was a very touching moment and we will continue to mobilise. You might not see it in political polls yet, but I believe this government is becoming deeply concerned of the people.”