RIOTS erupt in Italy after Rome rejects Palestinian statehood

By ramontomeydw // 2025-09-24

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Tens of thousands of Italians demonstrated nationwide, demanding Italy cut military and commercial ties with Israel and recognize Palestinian statehood. Unions, students, and workers disrupted transport, occupied universities and blocked ports.
Protesters in Rome, Milan, Naples and Venice clashed with police, vandalized property and burned a U.S. flag. Over 10 arrests and 60 injured officers were reported.
PM Giorgia Meloni called the unrest "shameful" and rejected unilateral recognition of Palestine, maintaining Italy's alliance with Israel despite growing European support for Palestinian sovereignty.
France, the U.K., Canada and others recently recognized Palestine, signaling declining Western dominance and rising multipolar opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza.
Dockworkers vow to continue blocking arms shipments to Israel, while protesters threaten further unrest, forcing Meloni's government to choose between public demands and its pro-Israel stance.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators clashed with police across Italy on Monday, Sept. 22, in nationwide protests against Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The rioters demanded that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government sever commercial and military ties with Israel and recognize Palestinian statehood. The protests, organized under the slogan "Let's Block Everything," were backed by trade unions and grassroots labor groups. In the capital Rome, crowds marched through the streets – shutting down highways and waving Palestinian flags with signs reading "Free Palestine." University students in Turin and Bologna occupied lecture halls, while public transport in Milan faced major disruptions. Also in Milan, violent confrontations erupted – where protesters smashed glass doors at the city's Central Station and set fire to a U.S. flag near the American consulate. This prompted law enforcement to deploy tear gas. More than 10 people were arrested, and at least 60 officers sustained injuries, according to state media. Similar clashes broke out in Naples, where demonstrators briefly occupied railway tracks, disrupting transit services. In Venice, police used water cannons to disperse dockworkers blocking ports who sought to prevent Italy from facilitating arms shipments to Israel. Port blockades were also reported in the cities of Genoa, Livorno and Trieste. "The Palestinian people continue to give us yet another lesson in dignity and resistance," said Ricky, a protester in Genoa with the Autonomous Port Workers' Collective. "We learn from them and try to do our part." Meloni condemned the unrest as "shameful" and "outrageous" in a post on X. She argued that the destruction "has nothing to do with solidarity" and would only harm Italian citizens.

Meloni refuses to recognize Palestine despite EU allies' shift

The demonstrations coincided with growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood – with multiple nations recognizing Palestine in recent days, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal. French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Palestine on Monday, calling it a "necessity" for peace – something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced as a "reward for terrorism." Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine points out that the State of Palestine being recognized by several countries at the United Nations General Assembly "signals a growing global rejection of Western dominance and marks the decline of U.S. and U.K. influence, as the world increasingly supports Palestinian sovereignty despite opposition from these imperialist powers. This shift highlights the crumbling of the Western-controlled world order and the rise of a multipolar system that challenges Zionist and globalist agendas." (Related: UN overwhelmingly backs Palestinian statehood as Israel and U.S. vote against it.) Despite voting in favor of a UN resolution earlier this month supporting a two-state solution, Meloni's right-wing government has refused to unilaterally recognize Palestine, calling such a move "counterproductive" before a formal state is established. Italy remains one of Israel's closest allies in the European Union, citing historical responsibility and security cooperation. The war, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, has claimed over 65,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities. This has also prompted a UN commission to accuse Israel of genocide. As Italy grapples with domestic unrest and diplomatic isolation, Meloni's refusal to align with European allies risks further inflaming tensions. With dockworkers vowing to continue blocking arms shipments and protesters pledging escalation, the government faces mounting pressure to reconsider its stance – or brace for more upheaval. The crisis underscores a deepening global divide over Israel's military campaign, with civilian casualties fueling outrage and hardening resistance. Whether Italy's leadership will bend to public demands or double down on its alliance with Netanyahu remains uncertain – but the streets have made their verdict clear. Rioting.news has more similar stories. Watch U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming that the recognition of Palestine is "fake" in this clip. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

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Meloni refuses to recognize Palestine despite EU allies' shift

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