Thousands protested worldwide after Israeli forces intercepted a pro-Palestinian flotilla near Gaza. The flotilla had over 40 boats with about 500 activists, including Greta Thunberg. Protests took place in Italy, Belgium, Greece, Argentina, and Germany. In Italy, cities like Rome, Milan, and Naples saw large demonstrations and strikes. Italian unions called a general strike, and some dockworkers blocked ships linked to Israel. Countries like Turkey, Ireland, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Malaysia condemned Israel’s actions. Colombia expelled Israeli diplomats and demanded the release of detained activists. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim criticized the interception and promised to hold Israel accountable. The flotilla aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, but Israel called it a stunt and warned of an active combat zone. The incident caused diplomatic tensions and calls for strikes in support of Palestine. (Updated 2 Oct 2025, 09:15 IST; source: link)
