Florence witnessed one of the largest demonstrations in recent memory today as tens of thousands of people filled the streets in solidarity with Gaza and the Global Sumud Flotilla intercepted en route to the besieged enclave. Organizers from the CGIL union claimed as many as 100,000 participants, while local newspaper Corriere Fiorentino estimated turnout closer to 60–70,000.
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
Ph. Francesco Spighi @francescospighi
The march began at Fortezza da Basso and wound its way along viale Spartaco Lavagnini, piazza della Libertà, viale Don Minzoni, Le Cure and viale dei Mille before ending in Campo di Marte. The procession was described as a “serpentone” (long snake) stretching for kilometres, with the “tail” still in viale Spartaco Lavagnini while the “head” was in Le Cure. Participants included students, grassroots unions, social movements and families, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Palestina libera” and “Stop genocide”.
The demonstration came less than 24 hours after unrest at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station. On Thursday evening, about 5,000 protesters breached police cordons, entering the station and accessing the train tracks, causing the suspension of rail traffic until police cleared the area later that night. Some officers were reported injured. Earlier the same day, students and activists had staged a smaller march and occupied university spaces in solidarity with Gaza.
Today’s march unfolded mostly peacefully, though traffic along the city’s ring roads was brought to a standstill and tram service toward San Marco was interrupted as the procession advanced. At Le Cure, a group of demonstrators climbed onto rail tracks, pulling down fencing and placing barriers on the line, which briefly halted train circulation before police intervened.
The Florence rally formed part of a broader wave of demonstrations and a general strike across Italy. In more than 100 cities, including Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin, protesters demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s interception of the aid flotilla.
