Viral video of nationwide strike in Italy in solidarity with Palestine

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is misleading.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search and a keyword search to trace the original source.

Multiple accounts, including accounts that appear to be pro-Palestinian based on past posts, have been sharing a video on X and Instagram since May 12, 2026, claiming that it shows a nationwide protest in Italy in solidarity with Palestine. However, the clip is from September 2025.

Hundreds of people across the world have taken to the streets in their countries to protest Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians. Most recently, the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) trade union in Italy called for a 24-hour walkout across the country’s public services on May 18 2026, citing military spending and solidarity with Gaza.

The strike action will affect transport, schools, healthcare and the wider public sector for the full working day.

HOW IT STARTED

On May 12, an X user, who appears to be pro-Palestine based on previous posts, shared a video showing hundreds of protestors taking to the streets.

The caption reads: “A nationwide general strike was organised in more than 75 cities across Italy, demanding a complete boycott of Israel and the severance of all ties. In Italy, following Prime Minister Meloni’s refusal to recognise the State of Palestine, pro-Palestine crowds took to the streets. The streets of major cities like Milan, Naples, Florence, and Turin were filled with millions of protesters.

“Pro-Palestine port workers blocked access to key ports to prevent arms shipments to Israel, causing logistics to grind to a halt in many areas. In Milan, chaos erupted on the streets after police clashed with demonstrators near the central station and used tear gas to control the crowd. Protesters demanded the following: Recognition of the State of Palestine. A halt to arms sales to Israel. Sanctions on the Netanyahu government. An end to the genocide in Gaza.”

The post gained 713,500 views.

Another social media user shared the same video with the following caption: “Italy just shut down for Palestine! Nationwide general strike in 75+ cities! Millions flood the streets of Milan, Naples, Florence & Turin. Country completely paralysed for 24 hours, transport, schools, ports, logistics ALL stopped. Port workers blocked arms shipments to Israel. Police fired tear gas in Milan after clashing with protesters near the central station. Why? Meloni refused to recognise Palestine → the people said NO MORE. Their demands: Recognise the State of Palestine. Halt ALL arms sales to Israel. Sanctions on Netanyahu’s government. End the genocide in Gaza NOW.”

The post gained 696,100 views.

Another pro-Palestinian user posted the same clip with a similar claim, accumulating 553,100 views.

Palestinian-American writer Susan Abulhawa also shared the same clip with the following caption: “I’m currently in Italy, and the revolutionary spirit here is strong.” Her post gained 101,500 views.

The same clip was shared on Instagram with a similar caption, gaining 5,200 views.

Subsequently, other X users also shared the same video with similar claims, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here; collectively gaining 81,000 views.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in the matter.

A keyword search conducted to verify whether any credible Italian or international media outlets had reported such a protest in Italy recently did not yield any results.

A reverse image search conducted to trace the origin of the viral clip yielded an X post, dated September 23, 2025, by Lebanese-Australian podcaster Mario Nawfal, with the caption: “Milan Chaos: Pro-Gaza March Turns Violent.”

The post described clashes between police and pro-Gaza demonstrators near Milan’s Stazione Centrale following the Italian government’s refusal to recognise a Palestinian state.

Further searches also yielded the same video shared on Instagram on September 23, 2025, by Indian digital media platform “thebharatpost”.

It stated that the demonstrations occurred during a nationwide 24-hour strike organised by grassroots unions in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Italy’s stance on Palestinian statehood. The post mentioned protests in cities including Milan, Rome, and Genoa, as well as clashes between protesters and police.

This indicates that the viral clip predates the current viral claim and is being recirculated out of context.

Additionally, a keyword search yielded multiple reports from international media organisations regarding protests in Italy during September 2025.

The BBC published a report on September 22, 2025, titled: “Clashes break out as Italians strike demanding action over Gaza.” According to the report, thousands of Italians participated in demonstrations and strike actions across dozens of cities in solidarity with Palestinians.

The report added that transportation services and ports were disrupted, while clashes between protesters and police occurred in Milan and Bologna.

The report also mentioned that although Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had faced criticism for refusing to recognise a Palestinian state, Italy had not formally changed its diplomatic position toward Israel.

Several other international news outlets, including The Guardian, Reuters, and Middle East Eye, also reported on the September 2025 protests in a similar context.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: MISLEADING

The claim that a viral video of a nationwide strike in Italy in solidarity with Palestine is misleading.

The video is old and dates back to protests and strikes held in September 2025 over the Gaza conflict and Italy’s stance on Palestinian statehood.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES

September 23, 2025, X post:

https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1970226596427473370
September 23, 2025, Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8DbrmgE0D/
September 22, 2025, BBC news report:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1jz8rdypw4o
September 22, 2025, The Guardian news report:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/22/disruption-across-italy-as-tens-of-thousands-protest-against-gaza-war
September 22, 2025, Reuters news report:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/genoa-dockers-walk-out-italian-unions-protest-against-israel-2025-09-22/
September 23, 2025, Middle east Eye news report:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tens-thousands-protest-across-italy-day-action-gaza