In an effort to isolate and stop Israel, force the Meloni government to cease supplying weapons and ammunition to the Israeli army, and break diplomatic and commercial relations with a state that acts in a barbaric manner contrary to every international rule, a huge crowd took to the streets, flooding the squares throughout the peninsula, from Val d'Aosta to Sicily.

 'Let's block everything,' said our Genoa dockworkers, and everything was blocked: ports, stations, local transport and motorways. The country came to a standstill, sending a clear and unequivocal message to the government.

Italy had not seen a general strike like this for many decades. Schools, universities and healthcare were shut down, as were factories, logistics and transport.

Blocking everything means joining the strike and stopping production and services.

 It sends a strong message to the government, the European Union and those in power: we are not complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people, and Israel must be stopped. 

We do not want a war economy or to see our work transformed into a service for the defence and military industries.

This great general strike, organised by the USB in over 80 cities, is a concrete representation of workers returning to the forefront and calling on citizens to stand up. 

These are workers who, as in crucial moments of class struggle, prioritise internationalism and the fight against war.

Yesterday, they did not strike to demand a new contract, but to demand justice for the Palestinian people, who are suffering greatly.

In an era of selfishness and individualism, this seems unthinkable. 

However, solidarity between peoples and brotherhood beyond borders are not dead values; quite the contrary, they are alive and well.