On Thursday, protesters gathered in 21 Polish cities to oppose Israel’s blockade of international aid flotillas aimed at Gaza.
Poland protests over Israel’s blockade
Thousands gathered in 21 cities, including Warsaw, Białystok, Gdańsk, Kraków, and Wrocław, on Thursday at 17:30 to protest Israel’s naval blockade of an international humanitarian flotilla aimed at Gaza. The demonstrations coincided with the capture of Polish citizens in Gaza, as the flotilla Sumud was unable to breach the blockade. Polish national Rafał Piotrowski, spokesperson for Global Movement to Gaza Poland, urged citizens to pressure the government and demanded an end to the Gaza genocide. The protest aimed to secure solidarity with both the Palestinians and imprisoned Polish participants.
Israel’s offensive escalates, casualties rise
At least 20 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, amid pleas that residents evacuate before the “full force” of the offensive. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that those remaining in Gaza would be treated as “terrorists and their supporters.” Continuous bombardments, coupled with widespread destruction of homes, schools, and a forced exodus southward, have led to daily deaths of dozens. Al Jazeera reports that the Israeli army shoots fleeing columns from airborne and ground positions, causing chaos and panic. In recent hours, a child died during a drone strike near Ansar; nine people were killed in central Gaza; and a mortar barrage injured eight at Al‑Aqsa University in Khan Younis. Israel has continued to attack areas declared “safe zones.” Since the war began on 7 October 2023, more than 66,100 Palestinians have been killed and 168,000 wounded.
Italy joins the protests, calls for sanctions
From Wednesday, protests erupted across Italy against the Israeli navy’s interception of international aid flotillas bound for Gaza. A general strike was planned for Thursday evening, but Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini threatened to ban the strike, citing legal requirements for a 10‑day notice. Italian students occupied universities and high schools in numerous cities, while unions declared a future general strike. In Rome, a massive demonstration was scheduled at the Colosseum on Thursday. Protests in 30 Italian cities, including Turin and Naples, caused no serious incidents. Italian diplomacy officials reported that the Israeli navy had detained 22 Italian participants, four of them parliamentarians. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the detained individuals were safe and would soon return to Italy. He condemned the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza as a massacre and warned that Italy would back European sanctions against Israel.