Overview

• Israeli forces intercepted the aid flotilla off Gaza and detained hundreds of activists, including about 40 Italians reportedly among those transferred to Israel.
• Italian unions called a national strike for Friday after large demonstrations on Thursday in Rome and other cities, with police estimating around 10,000 marchers in the capital and rail disruptions reported in Florence and Bologna.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dismissed the flotilla and the strike as unhelpful to Palestinians and inconvenient for Italians, quipping that a long weekend and revolution do not go together.
• Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament that Italy supports Israel’s right to self-defence but said actions in Gaza have exceeded that right and violated humanitarian law.
• Italy confirmed plans for detained participants to be moved to Ben Gurion airport, with charter flights expected early next week to return them to European destinations.