Big marches were taking place in all of Italy’s major cities on Friday while a general strike was causing widespread disruption, especially in the transport and education sectors, after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to take aid to Gaza and arrested the activists on board its boats.

The strike, called by the CGIL and USB trade unions, is going ahead even though Italy’s strike watchdog say it was illegal because insufficient notice was given.

The CGIL said the action was legitimate and confirmed it, saying it would appeal against the watchdog’s decision.

As a result many Italian schools were closed on Friday while lots of trains were cancelled with others delayed, in some cases for hours.

A number of domestic flights were cancelled too.

There were long lines of trucks on the road leading to the port of Livorno after protesters blocked access to it.

Spontaneous protests broke out in many parts of Italy on Wednesday after Israeli forces started boarding the flotilla boats.

Roads were blocked and protestors occupied the tracks at train stations in several cities.

There were clashed between police in riot gear and protestors in Bologna on Thursday, and the demonstration in Turin was marred by acts of vandalism at the OGR centre, which is set to host meetings featuring John Elkann, Jeff Bezos and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyer on Friday.

Students have staged sit-ins and occupations of schools and university faculties.

Milan’s Università Statale institute, the literature faculty at Rome’s La Sapienza University and humanities at Turin University were among those affected.