Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian protests, blockades and strikes in Italy

Tens of thousands of people protested on Monday across Italy as part of a day of action to denounce the Israeli genocide in Gaza, with blockades, strikes and marches.

The demonstrations came on the same day as France and other countries prepared to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following recognition by the UK, Australia and Canada on Sunday.

Italy's right-wing government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said it will not recognise a Palestinian state for now.

In Rome, around 20,000 people gathered in front of the main Termini train station, according to local police, many of them students, shouting "Free Palestine" and holding up Palestinian flags.

In the northern city of Milan, where organisers said 50,000 people turned out, protesters burned a US flag, an AFP reporter said.

Some demonstrators confronted anti-riot police at Milan's central train station, with police throwing teargas and protestors launching projectiles and smashing windows, an AFP photographer reported.

In Bologna, more than 10,000 took to the streets, according to local police, with a group of demonstrators blocking the motorway before being dispersed by water cannons.

Protests also took place in Turin, Florence, Naples and Sicily, while in Genoa and Livorno, dock workers blockaded port entrances, according to Italian media.

The USB union organised a 24-hour national strike to demand that the government break off relations with Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.

Local buses and the metro service were disrupted in Rome, while national train operators also warned of delays and cancellations.

- Reporting by AFP