On the eve of Friday’s general strike called by Italy’s trade unions, student protests are spreading across the country. The spark came after Israeli forces intercepted the humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, triggering a wave of demonstrations.

In Milan, activists from Cambiare Rotta occupied the University of Milan after weeks of assemblies and rallies. “If they touched the Flotilla, we would shut everything down,” they declared, calling for a public assembly on campus. In Rome, students occupied the Faculty of Humanities at La Sapienza, while in Turin classes were halted at Palazzo Nuovo. Demonstrations have also been reported in Genoa, Bologna, Bari and in several high schools.

The unrest has not been limited to universities. Last night, protests erupted in several cities—including Milan, Naples, Pisa and Florence—where hundreds blocked railway stations and ports in solidarity with Gaza. In Genoa, activists shut down access to the port; in Livorno, a ferry was held for an hour; in Pisa and Rome, protesters occupied railway tracks.

Organizers say this is only the beginning of a broader mobilization. On Friday, October 3, the protests will culminate in a nationwide general strike declared by the CGIL and other unions. “This is a necessary act,” the union said, “to defend the humanitarian mission and to oppose war and genocide.”