On the evening of 1 October 2025, the Israeli navy began boarding the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was sailing towards Gaza about eighty miles off the Palestinian coast. In the hours before the assault, the Italian unions Usb and the Cgil had announced that if the fleet, carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians, were seized or blocked, they would call a general strike affecting not only ports but also the wider transport and logistics system. That evening they confirmed the announcement, declaring a nationwide general strike for 3 October.
The proclamation follows a series of actions already carried out in previous weeks. On 30 September, in the port of Livorno, the ship Zim Virginia was forced to leave without carrying out loading or unloading operations due to the strike called by Filt-Cgil and Usb. The Prefect of Livorno ordered the company to withdraw the vessel after dockworkers refused to handle the containers. Similar situations occurred in Genoa and Ravenna during September, directly affecting the movement of strategic goods.
At the same time, the second meeting of the international dockworkers’ coordination against the transit of arms took place in Genoa at the end of September, with representatives from several European and Mediterranean countries. The stated aim is to organise a common day of strike across the main Mediterranean ports, in an effort to broaden the scope of mobilisation.
The already tense situation is further compounded by strike actions planned for October. A 24-hour general strike called by SiCobas is scheduled for 3 October, affecting the railway, logistics and port sectors. In rail, the stoppage will run from 21:00 on 2 October until 20:59 on 3 October. In logistics and ports, further blockades are expected which could disrupt import-export flows during a period of high demand.
The Commissione di Garanzia on strikes has opened an inquiry into Genoa and Livorno to verify compliance with current legislation. Cgil has stated that the strike is legitimised by paragraph 7 of article 2 of Law 146/90. In a note, the union explained that “the assault on civilian ships carrying Italian citizens is an extremely serious act. It strikes at the very constitutional order by preventing humanitarian and solidarity efforts towards the Palestinian population, subjected by the Israeli government to what amounts to an operation of genocide. It is a direct attack on the safety of workers and volunteers on board. It is not only a crime against defenceless people, but it is also serious that the Italian government has abandoned Italian workers in international waters, in violation of our constitutional principles.”
