Overview

• Italian activists rallied at the national team’s Coverciano training center in Florence, urging cancellation of the 14 October World Cup qualifier against Israel in Udine.
• CGIL said more than 2 million people participated in actions across over 100 cities, with 300,000 in Rome and an estimated 60% strike participation that halted major services.
• Transport and schools were heavily affected, with hundreds of train cancellations, domestic flight disruptions, and widespread classroom closures reported.
• Protests intensified after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla this week, with demonstrations largely peaceful though brief scuffles occurred in several cities.
• UEFA is reported to be considering suspending Israel from competitions, while Amnesty International has urged FIFA and UEFA to ban the Israeli FA and the US State Department has vowed to oppose any ban.