Berlin, FRG (Weltexpress). The massive protests against the genocide in the Gaza Strip and Israeli piracy against the Global Sumud Flotilla have put the country in a state that has paved the way for a general “political uprising” against the social exploitation and repressive measures of the Meloni government.
According to Italy experts, the protests against Zionist crimes in the Gaza Strip and piracy against the flotilla, which also included Italian ships and people, have become the catalyst for a long-standing and growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s policies. Above all, the discontent of the masses is directed against growing social inequality in the country and against the Meloni government’s tougher repressive measures against any criticism.
Meloni won the elections with the patriotic “Italy first” promise, namely to give priority to her own country’s problems over those of the EU, the US and Ukraine. But it did not take long for her to follow Brussels’ austerity directives because von der Leyen needed money for Ukraine. She also supported the new rounds of EU sanctions against Russia, which were to Italy’s disadvantage. When she then joined US President Trump in his unconditional support for the Zionist genocide – against the explicit will of the Italian masses – Meloni and her government had clearly exposed themselves as accomplices and manoeuvred themselves into a corner. This has made Meloni’s coalition management much more difficult and triggered a series of internal conflicts within her right-wing nationalist coalition.
The million-strong strike on 22 September and the increasing unrest since then have shaken Italy’s political elite. The mass protests, the work stoppages in the ports, the paralysed railway stations and transport networks came as a complete surprise to the elites, as right-wing Italian governments, not only under Meloni but also in the past, have successfully curtailed the influence and power of trade unions and left-wing movements. This “success” has now been wiped out in one fell swoop by the massive, nationwide Gaza protests.
Unconditional support despite Israel’s “loss of humanity”
In Rome, 300,000 demonstrators blocked the main railway station, while in cities such as Venice, Trieste, Milan and Naples, thousands marched for a free Palestine. The mobilisation reflected deep frustration with Meloni’s refusal to stop arms sales to Israel, despite a 1990 law prohibiting exports to war zones. The government used water cannons against demonstrators, reinforcing accusations of repression and deepening the divide between the people and the elites.
Giorgia Meloni has given Israel her unconditional support since the start of the Gaza war in 2023, as was evident during her visit to Tel Aviv on 21 October 2023, where she condemned the Palestinian attack of 7 October and emphasised Israel’s “right to self-defence”. However, the escalating brutality in Gaza – even Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto spoke in August 2025 of Israel’s “loss of reason and humanity” – forced Meloni to make a rhetorical retreat.
Nevertheless, weapons continue to flow to Israel through existing contracts with the arms manufacturer Leonardo, fuelling protests. Meloni’s refusal to recognise Palestine puts her “in direct opposition to the aspirations of her people from all political and social strata. This isolates Meloni and her government and could cost her dearly politically. Polls show 60 to 65 per cent support for Palestine, even among Meloni voters, which jeopardises her original voter base (about 30 per cent).
The flotilla and the Gaza genocide – with over 65,000 dead – channelled a “broader anger,” as Giuliano Granato of the left-wing Potere al Popolo party explained: “Palestine has given a name to our discontent.” This anger is fuelled by years of repression, economic inequality and the “non-existent future” for young Italians. Potere al Popolo played a central role. Marta Collot of the party called for “embargo and sanctions” against Israel, politicising the movement and challenging Meloni’s pro-NATO stance. The party mobilises mainly young people who are looking for alternatives in a society where “only the horrendously rich and powerful have a say”. In the long term, this could promote a shift to the left and permanently change Italy’s political landscape.
The political mobilisation is unprecedented in the history of Italian solidarity with international causes. However, it should not be forgotten that the Gaza protests are also a catalyst for the outbreak of pent-up socio-political anger against the Meloni government. According to observers, the stability of Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing nationalist government therefore depends on her future stance, not only with regard to the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip. Overall, the current unrest seems to indicate that Italy is returning to its traditional trade unionist, anti-fascist and internationalist roots and that right-wing nationalist populism no longer has a future in the country.
What will the future political direction be?
The implications for Italy’s political stability are profound. Many say the country is at a crossroads: either it will descend into a kind of neo-fascist dictatorship, or Italy will return to its anti-fascist tradition. Current developments point to the latter. This uprising could shift Italian politics to the left, fragment Meloni’s coalition and force the government to rethink its pro-NATO stance. Italy could join progressive EU states such as Spain or Ireland in supporting sanctions against Israel. This could divide the EU, as Italy acts as a pioneer for solidarity with Palestine.
Based on an AI analysis of current headlines and reports from mainstream Italian media (such as RAI News, Sky TG24, La Repubblica, Il Sole 24 Ore, Il Fatto Quotidiano) and alternative sources (such as Al Jazeera, The Guardian, social media discussions on X) as of 8 October, the following can be concluded: The protests against the genocide in Gaza and the piracy of the Global Sumud flotilla have not weakened in Italy, but have intensified significantly. The reporting is consistently negative towards Giorgia Meloni’s government, which is criticised as being too pro-Israeli and passive, and emphasises the broad social mobilisation.
