Protesters around the world on Friday railed at Israel鈥檚 interception of a flotilla carrying aid for Gaza鈥檚 besieged Palestinians, urging greater sanctions in response.
From Europe to Australia and South America, demonstrators took to the streets to condemn the treatment of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona last month to challenge Israel鈥檚 blockade of Gaza.
Over 200,000 people protested across Italy as they downed tools in support of the Gaza aid flotilla in a strike that caused widespread disruption.
The Italian strike, called by the USB and CGIL unions followed Thursday demonstrations in cities across the world, including Milan and Rome, where some 10,000 people marched from the Colosseum.
Protesters marched again Friday in Rome, setting off from the vast plaza outside the central train station of Termini, where services were cancelled or delayed.
Police told AFP over 80,000 people were demonstrating in Milan, where a sea of people clapped and waved the Palestinian flag as they made their way through the streets, carrying a massive banner reading: 鈥楩ree Palestine, Stop the War Machine.鈥�
Police set off smoke bombs to remove several hundred protesters who had broken off from the main march to occupy a ring road in Milan, television images showed.
Organisers said 50,000 people were marching in Turin and 40,000 in Genoa, while 10,000 protesters were blocking the port of Naples.
National rail firm Trenitalia warned the national strike would last until 20:59pm on Friday.聽 Protesters occupied train stations from Perugia to Cagliari, according to local media. Commercial traffic was blocked at the port of Livorno, local media reported.
Italy鈥檚 foreign ministry announced that Israel had released four Italian parliamentarians out of the 40 Italians detained from the flotilla.
The two members of parliament and two members of the European Parliament were due to arrive back in Rome Friday, the ministry said.
The head of Italy鈥檚 right-wing government, prime minister Giorgia Meloni had called the flotilla a 鈥榙angerous, irresponsible鈥� initiative, even while Italy sent a navy frigate to provide assistance.
The Israeli navy began intercepting the boats on Wednesday, and an Israeli official said the following day that boats with over 400 people on board had been prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip.
Israeli police said 鈥榤ore than 470 flotilla participants were taken into custody by the military police, subjected to rigorous screening, and transferred to the prison administration鈥�.
Authorities earlier said that Israeli naval forces had 鈥榠llegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels鈥攅ach carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel鈥檚 illegal siege on Gaza鈥�.
Among those detained from the flotilla were more than 20 journalists, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, including reporters from Spain鈥檚 El Pais, Qatar鈥檚 Al Jazeera and Italy鈥檚 public broadcaster RAI.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has given Hamas until 2200 GMT on Sunday to accept his 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, warning the Palestinian militant group faced 鈥榓ll hell鈥� if it did not agree to the terms.
The US leader set the deadline鈥攚hich would fall at 1:00am Monday in Gaza鈥攁fter an official for the Islamist movement told AFP earlier on Friday that the group still needed time to study the proposal to end nearly two years of devastating war in the Palestinian territory.
鈥業f this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,鈥� Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
鈥楬amas is still continuing consultations regarding Trump鈥檚 plan... and has informed mediators that the consultations are ongoing and need some time,鈥� the official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.
On Tuesday Trump gave Hamas 鈥榯hree or four days鈥� to accept his plan, which has been welcomed by world powers, including Arab and Muslim nations.
Mohammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas鈥檚 political bureau, said in a statement Friday that the 鈥榩lan has points of concern, and we will announce our position on it soon鈥�.
On the ground on Friday, Gaza鈥檚 civil defence agency鈥攁 rescue force operating under Hamas authority鈥攔eported heavy air bombardment and artillery shelling on Gaza City.
It said Israeli strikes killed at least 11 people across the territory, including eight in Gaza City.
As Hamas mulled Trump鈥檚 peace plan this week, a Palestinian source close to the group鈥檚 leadership told AFP on Wednesday that the Islamist movement wanted to amend some clauses, including the one on disarmament.
Hamas leaders also want 鈥榠nternational guarantees鈥� for a full Israeli withdrawal and that no assassination attempts would be made inside or outside Gaza, the source added.
Another source familiar with the negotiations told AFP that the group was split over Trump鈥檚 plan.
Structurally, the group鈥檚 leadership is divided between officials based in the Gaza Strip and those abroad, particularly in Qatar.
Much of Hamas鈥檚 leadership has also been wiped out in Israeli attacks throughout the war.
The source told AFP that 鈥榯he first [opinion] supports unconditional approval, as the priority is a ceasefire under Trump鈥檚 guarantees, with mediators ensuring Israel implements the plan鈥�.
鈥楾he second has serious reservations regarding key clauses... They favour conditional approval with clarifications reflecting Hamas鈥檚 and the resistance factions鈥� demands,鈥� the source added.