Italy's unions hold general strike over Gaza flotilla interception

Italian trade unions staged a nationwide general strike Friday in protest at the interception this week of an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza, bringing large demonstrations and widespread disruptions across cities including Rome and Milan. The action followed Wednesday night’s interception by Israeli naval forces of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the reported detention of dozens of people on board, including Italian citizens and elected officials.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 40 Italians were detained after the vessels were redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Two Italian members of parliament and two members of the European Parliament were among those who had been aboard the flotilla, which organizers said aimed to break Israel’s naval blockade to deliver humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the government would work to bring detained Italians home. "Obviously we will do everything we can to ensure these people can return to Italy as soon as possible," she told reporters, adding that she believed the flotilla “brings no benefit to the Palestinian people."

Unions that called the strike framed it as solidarity with Palestinians and as...