Italy interior ministry alleges that kneeling gesture in uniform “discredited” fire service.
A group of Italian firefighters could face disciplinary action over a gesture of solidarity with Palestinian victims of Israel’s war on Gaza as part of a demonstration in Pisa on 22 September.
The incident in question, involving 10 firefighters, took place on the day of the general strike proclaimed by USB in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla and Gaza.
The firefighters subsequently received notice from the Italian interior ministry that their actions would be the subject of a disciplinary enquiry, Claudio Mariotti told the Dire news agency.
“I and other firefighters observed a minute’s silence by kneeling as a gesture made by goodwill ambassadors for UNICEF, because the national fire brigade is a UNICEF ambassador with an agreement renewed last 2024 by [interior ministry] undersecretary [Emanuele] Prisco”, Mariotti said.
A firefighter for almost four decades, Mariotti is a USB trade unionist and member of the National Fire Brigade Coordination.
“We knelt down to express our solidarity with the victims, especially children, given that we wear the UNICEF pin on our uniform and thousands of innocent children died in this genocide” – Mariotti said – “There was no unconstitutional action. Instead, they attack union leaders and workers as part of a strike and demonstration fully legitimised by union action.”
The dispute from the interior ministry centres on the fact that the gesture occurred while the firefighters were in uniform, accusing them of “discrediting the entire Corps”, Mariotti said, adding that the disciplinary action could result in “suspension with reduction of salary or, even if the possibility is remote, dismissal.”
The work of the disciplinary commission will begin on 29 January – newspaper Corriere della Sera reports – with the USB union set to hold a conference in Rome “against the repression of freedom of expression and the militarisation of the Corps” on the eve of the hearing.
