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Strike in Italy Over Gaza Flotilla Strands Commuters 

Pro-Palestinian protesters hold banners as they occupy the carriageways of the main road to the port in Livorno, Italy, 03 October 2025. (EPA)
Pro-Palestinian protesters hold banners as they occupy the carriageways of the main road to the port in Livorno, Italy, 03 October 2025. (EPA)
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Strike in Italy Over Gaza Flotilla Strands Commuters 

Pro-Palestinian protesters hold banners as they occupy the carriageways of the main road to the port in Livorno, Italy, 03 October 2025. (EPA)
Pro-Palestinian protesters hold banners as they occupy the carriageways of the main road to the port in Livorno, Italy, 03 October 2025. (EPA)

A general strike in Italy in support of the Gaza aid flotilla disrupted trains and threatened more commuter chaos Friday in a second day of demonstrations in Rome.

The strike, called by the USB and CFIL unions, follows demonstrations Thursday in several cities across the world, including in Milan and Rome, where some 10,000 people marched from the Colosseum.

Protesters began to amass again Friday morning in Rome to march to the vast plaza outside the central train station of Termini, where services were canceled or delayed up to 80 minutes.

"The squares will be packed," the head of the CGIL union, Maurizio Landini, told Radio Anch'io Friday.

"It shows the humanity and determination of decent people who want to stop genocide and are doing what governments and states have pretended not to see or are even complicit in," Landini said.

In Milan and other cities, travelers experienced similar delays and cancellations, with national railway Trenitalia warning that the national strike would extend through 20:59 pm Friday.

"Today, one million Italians will be left stranded on trains alone," Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini told the Mattino Cinque television show.

Commercial traffic was blocked at the port of Livorno, local media reported.

The strike began as Italy's foreign ministry announced that four Italian parliamentarians had been released by Israel after being arrested in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to break Israel's siege of Gaza.

The two Italian members of parliament and two Italian members of the European Parliament were due to arrive back in Rome Friday, the ministry said.

The flotilla said Friday the Israeli navy had intercepted 42 vessels this week while officials said more than 400 activists were detained. The last ship set sail on Friday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the national strike while at an EU meeting in Copenhagen Thursday.

"I would have expected that at least on an issue they considered so important, the unions would not have called a general strike on Friday, because long weekends and revolution do not go together," said Meloni.

The head of the right-wing government had previously called the flotilla a "dangerous, irresponsible" initiative, even while Italy sent a navy frigate to provide assistance.

Meloni's reluctance to overtly criticize Israel and her unwillingness to break ranks with US President Donald Trump has encountered increasing resistance in Italy, spurring a wave of protests in recent weeks.

Italy's strike watchdog has already called Friday's action illegal, due to unions not having given the necessary 10-day notice.

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World

Macron Says France ‘Never Envisaged’ Sending Warships into Strait of Hormuz

This US Navy handout photo released on May 8, 2026 by US Central Command Public Affairs, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implementing a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby while the latter was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, on April 24, 2026. (US Navy / AFP)
This US Navy handout photo released on May 8, 2026 by US Central Command Public Affairs, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implementing a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby while the latter was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, on April 24, 2026. (US Navy / AFP)
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Macron Says France ‘Never Envisaged’ Sending Warships into Strait of Hormuz

This US Navy handout photo released on May 8, 2026 by US Central Command Public Affairs, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implementing a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby while the latter was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, on April 24, 2026. (US Navy / AFP)
This US Navy handout photo released on May 8, 2026 by US Central Command Public Affairs, shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) implementing a maritime blockade against the Iran-flagged crude oil tanker vessel Herby while the latter was attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, on April 24, 2026. (US Navy / AFP)

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said that France had "never envisaged" a naval deployment in the Strait of Hormuz but rather a security mission that would be "coordinated with Iran".

At a news conference in Nairobi, Macron said he was sticking to his position opposing a blockade from either side, and to "reject any toll" to ensure ships are able to pass through the strategic waterway.

Iran on Sunday warned of a "decisive and immediate response" to any French or British deployments in the strait, after both announced they would send military vessels to the region.

"There was never any question of a deployment but we are ready," said Macron.

"We have put together an ad hoc mission, co-led with the British, which has brought together 50 countries and international organisations to enable, in a coordinated way with Iran and by deconflicting the situation with all the countries of the region and the United States, the resumption of maritime traffic as soon as conditions allow," he added.

Macron, in Africa for a summit in Nairobi, said the whole continent was "victim of the blockade" of the strait, through which normally passes most of the oil exported from the Middle East.

France last week announced that its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, had passed through the Suez Canal in preparation for such a mission.

World

Israeli Attorney General Opposes Appointment of Next Mossad Chief

Israeli left-wing activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv's HaBima Square against the ongoing war with Iran and against the Israeli government on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli left-wing activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv's HaBima Square against the ongoing war with Iran and against the Israeli government on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Israeli Attorney General Opposes Appointment of Next Mossad Chief

Israeli left-wing activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv's HaBima Square against the ongoing war with Iran and against the Israeli government on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Israeli left-wing activists demonstrate in Tel Aviv's HaBima Square against the ongoing war with Iran and against the Israeli government on May 9, 2026. (AFP)

Israel's attorney general on Sunday opposed the appointment of the next head of the Mossad spy agency, due to take office in June, in a letter to the Supreme Court shared with the Israeli media.

The court is due to hear multiple petitions against the appointment of Major General Roman Gofman in the coming days.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's opposition centers on a case dating back to 2022, in which she says Gofman did nothing to exonerate a teenager arrested for espionage who had in fact been secretly recruited by the military at Gofman's request.

Gofman was a military commander on Israel's northern border at the time.

According to the attorney general's letter, army officers acting "at Gofman's request" recruited 17-year-old Uri Elmakiyes outside any legal framework to conduct "information gathering and influence" operations online with citizens of enemy countries, mainly Syria.

Unaware that the teenager was acting on behalf of the military, the Shin Bet internal security agency arrested and detained him in isolation for nearly two months before moving him to house arrest for over a year.

Prosecutors eventually dropped all charges against Elmakiyes, following an investigation. He is among those petitioning the Supreme Court against the appointment.

Baharav-Miara accused Gofman of doing nothing to exonerate the young man after his arrest. Gofman initially denied any knowledge of the affair.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu selected Gofman, who currently serves as his military secretary, for the post of Mossad director in December 2025.

An advisory committee for senior appointments was tasked with issuing an opinion on the appointment.

The committee's chairman, a former Supreme Court judge, opposed the nomination, saying Gofman had lied about the affair during his hearing, raising concerns about his "moral integrity".

But he was outvoted by the committee's three other members, who are all known to be supporters of the prime minister.

Netanyahu wrote to the court requesting that the petitions be dismissed, arguing that "responsibility for the security of the state and its citizens rests with the prime minister, and with him alone".

Netanyahu has refused to assume responsibility for the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel that sparked the two-year war in Gaza, placing the blame on the security establishment.

World

Iran War ‘Not Over,’ Uranium Must Be Removed, Says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. (Reuters)
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Iran War ‘Not Over,’ Uranium Must Be Removed, Says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium must be "taken out" before the US-Israeli war against Iran can be considered over, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview Sunday.

"It's not over, because there's still nuclear material -- enriched uranium -- that has to be taken out of Iran. There's still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled," Netanyahu said in an excerpt of an interview due to air later Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes" program.

"You go in and you take it out," the Israeli leader said when asked how the uranium could be removed.

Netanyahu said that US President Donald Trump had a similar position.

"I'm not going to talk about military means, but the president, what President Trump has said to me -- 'I want to go in there.'"

However, Netanyahu's statement was in contrast to Trump's public position.

The 79-year-old Republican is under increasing domestic pressure to end the Iran war and he insists that Tehran's nuclear program has been contained.

In an interview aired Sunday but apparently recorded earlier, Trump said Iran was "militarily defeated" and he insisted that the uranium could be removed "whenever we want."

"We'll get that at some point, whenever we want. We'll have it surveilled," he told independent television journalist Sharyl Attkisson.

"We have that very well surveilled. If anybody got near the place we will know about it and we'll blow them up."

Asked by CBS how the uranium stockpiles could be taken out from Iran, Netanyahu said he would prefer an agreement.

"I think it can be done physically. That's not the problem. If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not? That's the best way."

Pressed on whether there are military options to seize the hidden uranium, Netanyahu said, "I'm not going to talk about our military possibilities, plans, or anything of the kind."

"I'm not going to give a timetable to it, but I am going to say that's a terrifically important mission."

In addition to the unresolved uranium stockpile issue, Netanyahu said there were several other war aims that had yet to be accomplished.

"There's still proxies that Iran supports, their ballistic missiles that they still want to produce. Now, we've degraded a lot of it, but all that is still there and there's work to be done."

Netanyahu's interview with "60 Minutes" was due to air at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT).