On April 17 and 18, Catania hosted an extensive program of activities in solidarity with Palestine and in support of the flotilla that will soon depart from Syracuse, Sicily. The International Socialist League (ISL) participated together with local activists.
By Ruben Tzanoff
Solidarity Days in Catania
On Friday, April 17, on the opening day, a clear message was expressed: “We support the departure of the flotilla with activities, debates and mobilizations.” A public debate was held with the participation of representatives of the flotilla, the student movement and organizations in support of Palestine. Activists gathered at the Piazza dei Libri, where speakers both present and remotely connected were heard. Concerts, artistic performances and discussion spaces were also organized.
On Saturday 18th, several hundred people gathered to welcome multiple sailboats in the port of Catania (Blu Marina), which docked before setting course for Syracuse the following day. This was accompanied by militant speeches, countless slogans of “Free Palestine”, a rendition of “Bella Ciao”, and continued with a march that ended in Piazza Stesicoro (Piazza Gaza).
Upcoming major events on the ground include the “Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress” on April 22 in Brussels, Belgium, which, according to the organizers, “will lay the foundation for what is to follow: a coordinated, structured and action-oriented network.”
Recreating and deepening the Italian experience of 2025
Numerous organizations were represented, including the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which has already organized several strikes in solidarity with Palestine. From that teachers’ union Claudia Orsi told us a few words: “My union organized and led the strikes of September 22, October 3 and November 28, 2025, in protest against the genocide in Palestine, a fellow dockworker from Genoa was on board and we provided great support. Those were really important moments in Catania where we had the Piazza Gaza, which was our Piazza Stesicoro, which was filled every day and every night with hundreds of people in spontaneous marches. So we hope we can continue because this is perhaps the most difficult moment for Gaza and for Palestine, because of the public opinion, they think there is a ceasefire, but there is not, people are still dying in Gaza, there is no electricity, no basic necessities, no medicine, no press and no drinking water…So now we also support this Flotilla and we hope it can arrive”.
The Italian working class, students and youth, through mobilizations, strikes and blockades, marked a path of struggle to defend the Flotilla and for the liberation of Palestine that must be consciously taken up and deepened.
ISL also present in Italy
Just as the comrades of Socialismo y Libertad (SOL) bid farewell to the Flotilla in Barcelona, comrades from the Partito Comunista dei Lavoratori (PCL) and ArbeiterInnenmacht (Germany), sections that are also members of the ISL, were present in Italy.
Our comrade Salvo D’arrigo, from PCL, told us: “Last year the Flotilla brought to Catania its first experience and it was wonderful, we gave it a great welcome. We are doing the same today, participating in such an important event”.
Heading to Syracuse
Our ISL comrades, Cele Fierro and Raul Laguna, are sailing through Mediterranean waters towards Syracuse. There, the ships that departed from Barcelona will regroup with those that departed from Catania, the political situation will be evaluated and the next steps will be announced. The official departure of the unified flotilla is scheduled for April 23-24.
