Pro-Palestine demonstration in Barcelona Emilio Morenatti/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reservedTens of thousands took to the streets in cities across Europe after Israel intercepted a flotilla of more than 40 ships carrying aid to Gaza.
Thousands of people marched in Barcelona and Rome on Saturday for a second day of Italian protests against Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The protests in Barcelona and Madrid were planned weeks ago, whilst the protests in Rome and later in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon were sparked by widespread anger after Israel intercepted a humanitarian aid flotilla aiming to break a naval blockade of Palestinian territory.
More than 300,00 people filled the streets of Barcelona, according to organisers. Other demonstrations were registered in various parts of the country. Police estimates put the number at around 70,000.
Spain has seen an upsurge of support for Palestinians in recent weeks while its left-wing government intensifies diplomatic efforts against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government
Protests against the presence of an Israeli-owned cycling team repeatedly disrupted the Spanish Vuelta last month, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the destruction in Gaza a “genocide” and asked for the ban of all Israeli teams from international sporting events.
Italy already saw more than 2 million people rally on Friday across the country in a one-day general strike to support the Palestinians in Gaza.
The protest in Rome followed a route by the Colosseum. The organisers — three Palestinian organisations along with local unions and students — claimed that 1 million joined. There were no official estimates.
The protests in Madrid and Lisbon are to follow later on Saturday. There are also protests expected across many other Spanish cities.
Smaller rallies took place in Athens and Skopje, North Macedonia. Greek police believe a bigger gathering and march will take place
Italy travel warning: General strikes and protests set to disrupt travel today and beyond
A demonstration likely to raw tens of thousands is also planned in Rome on 4 October.
Travellers in Italy should brace for severe disruption today, 3 October, as a nationwide general strike coincides with mass protests across the country.
The 24-hour work stoppage has been called by two of Italy’s biggest unions, CGIL and USB, in response to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which included an estimated 40 Italian nationals and members of parliament among its passengers.
The snap walkout overlaps with a previously planned general strike, with potentially hundreds of thousands expected to take part in cities across the country.
The action is expected to hit air, rail, sea and local transport services at the start of the weekend.
Which airports and stations will be affected?
The action is set to affect schools, healthcare facilities and transport services nationwide, including air hubs such as Milan’s Malpensa airport.
National rail services will also be hit, with Trenitalia and Italo anticipating widespread disruption.
In Milan, metro operators this morning warned passengers to expect interruptions throughout the day, while in Genoa, dockworkers have pledged to block Israeli-linked shipments, raising the prospect of closures at one of Europe’s busiest ports.
Where are demonstrations taking place?
Organisers have vowed to “block everything”, in a call that echoes the bloquons tout movement occurring in France.
In Rome, a major rally was scheduled to begin at 11 am on Friday at Piazza dei Cinquecento, outside Termini train station. Police expected up to 70,000 people to join a march from Termini to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation.
The UK Foreign Office also warned of another demonstration that could attract thousands more in Rome on 4 October.
Travellers should expect road closures and delays near protest sites, especially in city centres. Some transport services are guaranteed during strikes, but the timetables vary from city to city. Check local websites for current information.
Why are unions striking?
Union leaders say the action is a response to Italy’s handling of the flotilla raid.
“The aggression against civilian ships carrying Italian citizens is an extremely serious matter,” CGIL said in a statement. “It is not only a crime against defenceless people, but it is also serious that the Italian government has abandoned Italian workers in open international waters, violating our constitutional principles.”
Italian authorities have declared the strike unlawful, since it is taking place without a legally mandated 10-day notice.
How has the Italian government responded?
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused the unions of exploiting the flotilla incident for political purposes.
Speaking outside a European Union summit in Copenhagen, she claimed the convoy had “brought no benefits for the Palestinian people” but was set to “bring many inconveniences to the Italian people”.
Taking aim at the timing, she added: “I would have expected … they would not have called a general strike on a Friday, because a long weekend and revolution don’t go together.”
Transport minister Matteo Salvini likewise criticised the movement and floated an injunction to block it. “We will not allow the CGIL and left-wing extremists to bring chaos to Italy. We will not tolerate any sudden general strike,” he wrote in a post on X.
What does this mean for travellers?
Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC reminds travellers that flights scheduled between 7 am and 10 am and between 6 pm and 9 pm must still operate.
During strikes, most services to and from Sicily, Sardinia and other smaller islands are also guaranteed. Outside these windows, cancellations and delays are likely.
Travellers are advised to check with their airline or train operator before departure and allow extra time for journeys, especially in places where demonstrations are occurring.
More strikes ahead
Friday’s action comes at the start of a turbulent month for transport in Italy.
Between now and the end of the year, there are 40 planned strikes, including walkouts at Rome Fiumicino, Pisa, Florence and Milan Linate airports later this October.
For the latest updates, consult the Italian transport ministry’s strike calendar. Sunday to coincide with a pro-Israeli one.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Italy's soccer
training center to oppose game vs. Israel
Associated Press
Fri, October 3, 2025
Demonstrators gather for a pro-Palestinians protest in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Guido Calamosca/LaPresse via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators sits on the Milan's ring road during a protest part of a national general strike called by different unions to protest against the situation in Gaza two days after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march along the Milan's ring road as they gather for a national general strike called by different unions to protest against the situation in Gaza two days after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march along the Rome's ring road as they gather for a national general strike called by different unions to protest against the situation in Gaza two days after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, in Rome, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator throws bottles during a demonstration part of a national general strike called by different unions to protest against the situation in Gaza two days after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Pro-Palestinian Protesters approached the gates of the Italy soccer team's training center on Friday to demand an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel is not played because of the war in Gaza.
The protest was part of a national strike by more than two million people up and down the peninsula, according to the nation's largest union. The protesters were also reacting to an aid mission blocked by Israeli forces.
Italy is scheduled to host Israel in Udine on Oct. 14. UEFA had been considering suspending Israel over the war. The players were not at the Coverciano training center in Florence but the squad will convene there on Monday.
Protesters appeared to behave peacefully on the opposite side of the street from the soccer complex, holding aloft a banner that read in Italian, “Let’s stop Zionism with the resistance." A protest leader grabbed a microphone and shouted, “How can you still allow Israel, a Zionist and criminal state, to play soccer games?”
Dozens of protests have erupted across Italy since Wednesday night, after the Israeli navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining its activists.
On Friday, workers and students took to the streets after the country’s largest unions called for a one-day general strike in solidarity with the Palestinians and the flotilla. Highways were blocked, hundreds of trains were cancelled or delayed, as were several domestic flights, and many private and public schools closed.
Clashes erupted briefly in Milan where protesters blocking the city’s ring road started throwing bottles at police, who responded with smoke bombs.
Italy played Israel in Udine last October in the Nations League. That game went off without incident amid a heavy police presence and despite a pro-Palestinian demonstration before the game. Italy won 4-1.
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