'Starting to be very afraid': Italy's Palestinian Protests Raise Pressure on Meloni

A deafening sound of honking vehicles and dockworkers chanting “you are not welcome” greeted an Israeli-owned cargo vessel when it docked in Livorno this week.

For two days, the protesting port laborers refused to back down, declining to unload and reload the vessel’s freight in a display of strong support for the people of Gaza and the international aid convoy striving to deliver aid to Gaza. The action was a triumph and the ship, bound for the US and Canada, left the port.

Countrywide Harbor Protests Spread

From northern ports in the north, to Salerno and Taranto in the southern area, in the past few weeks dock laborers throughout the country have managed in blocking ships believed to be carrying weapons for Israel, as opposition to the conflict in Gaza intensifies.

The dockers’ determination to prevent arms shipments and stifle trade has been a key element of the solidarity movement in Italy as demands mounts on Giorgia Meloni’s conservative administration to take a stronger stance against the Israeli government.

“The Israeli military is conducting an systematic destruction of civilians in the Gaza Strip – by killing them, by depriving them of food,” said a port employee, Luca Simoni. “We cannot remain indifferent. We have historically been a port of welcome, not one of conflict. We will keep demonstrating until this war ends.”

National Walkout Increases Pressure

On Friday, thousands demonstrated after Cgil called the latest nationwide walkout in under 14 days, shutting educational institutions, disrupting transport and creating delays on mass transit and in medical services. There were also impromptu demonstrations on Wednesday night after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and arrested numerous participants, including the prominent campaigner the environmental advocate.

The incident in Livorno was the initial instance an Israeli ship transporting general merchandise had been prevented from docking.

Popular Sentiment and Government Response

Recent surveys show significant support among the public – including a substantial share of voters of the governing alliance – for the establishment of a Palestinian state and in support 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 the militant group’s assault, and has opened up to the country recognizing a Palestinian state, albeit with caveats. But she still attempts to walk a fine line between being one of the strongest supporters of Israel in the European Union and a friend of Middle Eastern countries, all the while following the policies of the American leader, the former president.

Still, she is mindful of public opinion, especially with the country in the midst of several regional elections, and has attempted to use the protests and flotilla to criticize her leftwing opponents.

The Prime Minister has described the convoy as “risky and reckless” and, despite the humanitarian mission involving hundreds of activists from various nations, she said it was only aimed at “creating problems” for her government. She criticized the national walkout, claiming participants of undertaking “a long weekend masquerading as a revolution” while claiming the event was politically orchestrated and provided little help to the people of Gaza.

“The Meloni government can only remain in power with someone to blame,” stated Gianfranco Francese, who leads the Livorno unit of Cgil. “There is also a significant inconsistency between what the Prime Minister says and what she implements,” he continued. “She talks about being a devoted nationalist, a Christian and a mother, but she has not undertaken any official steps to stop the massacre of civilian families.”

Political Stability Despite Protests

But despite the strong public sentiment shown through the wave of solidarity demonstrations, the ruling party remains ahead in polls, at approximately thirty percent, and she has led an uncharacteristically stable national administration since taking office in late 2022.

“From one perspective, there is the majority of the population in solidarity with Palestinians which desires an cessation to the conflict,” explained Lorenzo Pregliasco, a co-founder of a polling firm. “But you don’t see the impact of this when it time to cast ballots.”

The analyst mentioned recent regional votes in the central area where Meloni’s coalition won a second mandate. The same outcome is anticipated in elections in Veneto and Calabria.

Pregliasco said there was “a real risk of the [Gaza] movement having too much of a leftwing identity, which would alienate people who are appalled with the war but who are not pro-Palestinian militants”.

Expert Insights

Nadia Urbinati at New York’s Columbia University and the University of Bologna, said the explanation why the consequences of the demonstrations were not being reflected in voting was because only around fifty percent of the electorate participate in elections.

“And those who do, support conservative parties,” she said, noting that the Prime Minister could readily use the protests to disarm rivals.

She said every spontaneous movement of the public was vulnerable to being penetrated by antagonists, and alleged that this had been happening in order to “discredit and suppress” the solidarity campaign.

Medical Community Join

A cardiologist in Rome, has joined multiple pro-Palestine protests in the Italian capital and marched in the rally near a central square on the strike day.

“Last night, there was an event held in medical facilities during which we remembered the many healthcare workers who died in the conflict zone while trying to help people,” she stated. “It was a deeply emotional occasion and we will keep organizing. You may not observe it in political polls yet, but I think this administration is becoming very afraid of the people.”