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A deafening chorus of blaring horns and dockworkers chanting “you are not welcome” welcomed an Israeli-owned container ship when it arrived in Livorno this week.

For two days, the striking port laborers stood their ground, declining to handle the vessel’s freight in a act of defiant solidarity for Palestinians and the Global Sumud flotilla attempting to deliver aid to the besieged territory. The protest was a triumph and the vessel, headed to the United States 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 across Italy have managed in blocking vessels suspected to be transporting arms for Israel, as resistance to the conflict in Gaza grows stronger.

The dockers’ determination to block weapons and stifle trade has been a key element of the solidarity movement in the nation as demands increases on Prime Minister Meloni’s far-right government to adopt a firmer position against Israel.

“The Israeli military is conducting an extermination of civilians in the Gaza Strip – by killing them, by depriving them of food,” said a dockworker, Luca Simoni. “We must not stay silent. We have always been a port of welcome, not one of war. We will keep demonstrating until this hostilities ends.”

General Strike Increases Tension

On Friday, many people demonstrated after Italy’s largest trade union called the latest nationwide walkout in under 14 days, closing schools, disrupting transport and causing disruption on public transport and in medical services. There were also impromptu demonstrations on midweek after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and detained hundreds of activists, including the prominent campaigner the environmental advocate.

The incident in Livorno was the first time an vessel from Israel carrying general merchandise had been blocked.

Public Opinion and Government Response

Recent surveys show strong backing among Italians – including a considerable portion of supporters of the governing alliance – for the recognition of a independent Palestine and in support of the humanitarian convoy.

The Prime Minister has criticised the deaths caused by Israel of Palestinian people in the past few months, describing it as a “excessive” response to the militant group’s assault, and has opened up to Italy recognising a sovereign Palestine, though with conditions. But she still attempts to maintain the delicate balance between being one of the strongest supporters of Israel in the European Union and a ally of Arab nations, all the while aligning with the policies of the US president, the former president.

Still, she is mindful of voter sentiment, especially with Italy in the throes of several regional elections, and has attempted to use the protests and flotilla to attack her leftwing opponents.

Meloni has characterized the convoy as “dangerous and irresponsible” and, despite the humanitarian mission involving many participants from various nations, she said it was only targeted at “creating problems” for her administration. She criticized Friday’s general strike, accusing participants of undertaking “a long weekend disguised as a revolution” while claiming the event was organized for political reasons and provided little help to the people of Gaza.

“The Meloni government can only remain in power with scapegoats,” stated Gianfranco Francese, who heads the Livorno unit of Cgil. “There is also a great contradiction between what the Prime Minister claims and what she does,” he continued. “She talks about being a great patriot, a Christian and a mother, but she has not taken any political or diplomatic action to halt the killing of women and children.”

Government Standing Despite Protests

But despite the widespread popular feeling shown through the series of solidarity demonstrations, the ruling party continues to lead in polls, at approximately thirty percent, and she has headed an uncharacteristically stable national administration since coming to power in October 2022.

“From one perspective, there is the larger part of the population in solidarity with Gaza which wants an cessation to the war,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, a co-founder of YouTrend. “But you don’t see the impact of this when it time to cast ballots.”

The analyst referred to last week’s elections in the central area where the governing alliance won a another term. The similar result is expected in votes in other regions.

Pregliasco said there was “a real risk of the [Gaza] movement having an overly strong of a partisan association, which would distance individuals who are horrified with the violence but who are not active supporters”.

Expert Perspectives

Nadia Urbinati at New York’s Columbia University and the University of Bologna, said the explanation why the consequences of the protests were not being seen in elections was because barely half of the electorate participate in elections.

“And those who do, support conservative parties,” she added, explaining that the Prime Minister could readily leverage the unrest to weaken opponents.

She said any grassroots activism of the public was susceptible to being penetrated by antagonists, and suggested that this had been happening in order to “discredit and suppress” the solidarity campaign.

Medical Community Join

A cardiologist in the capital, has joined multiple pro-Palestine protests in the city and marched in the rally near Piazza Vittorio on Friday.

“Last night, there was an initiative held in Italy’s hospitals during which we remembered the many healthcare workers who died in Gaza while providing aid,” she stated. “It was a very touching moment and we will continue to mobilise. You may not observe it in election surveys yet, but I believe this administration is starting to be deeply concerned of the people.”