Letter from Rome

On Sunday, September 7, the Italian boats of the "Global Sumud Flotilla" mission for Gaza are set to join vessels that left Barcelona on August 31 with activist Greta Thunberg, in a symbolic attempt to break the enclave's blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to its people. One of the most significant departure points, Genoa in Liguria, has rediscovered its deep activist traditions, brought back to life by the city's dockworkers at the end of a summer that saw a surge in pacifist demonstrations and solidarity with Palestinians across Italy.

Week after week, various regions and municipalities have symbolically recognized the State of Palestine. The Venice Film Festival addressed the Palestinian issue at the end of August, and silent peace vigils were held in front of the Pantheon in Rome and the Duomo in Milan. The movement peaked on Saturday, August 30, in Genoa, with a nighttime march attended by several tens of thousands of people, led by the city's newly elected mayor, Silvia Salis (center-left).

The port's dockworkers have also been at the forefront, with some making a strong impression during the demonstration through their unequivocal stance. "If, even for twenty minutes, we lose contact with our comrades on the flotilla, we will block all of Europe: from Genoa's docks, not a single nail will leave, it will be a global strike," said Riccardo Rudino, referring to the volunteer crews threatened with arrest by Israeli authorities. His speech, filmed and quickly shared, went viral on news sites and social media.

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