Riots and officers injured at the pro-Pal strike in Milan: Schlein, Renzi, and Conte react.

The mobilization in support of Palestine turned into a day of tension in Italy's major cities. Between clashes, riots, and injured officers, the pro-Pal strike ignited political debate. Reactions were swift: Schlein , Renzi , and Conte commented on the events.

Pro-Pal strike, riots, and injured officers in Milan

Today

On Monday, September 22, 2025, Italy witnessed one of the largest social mobilizations in recent years: a general strike called by grassroots unions in solidarity with the people of Gaza and in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The protests affected various sectors, including transportation, education, healthcare, ports, and public services, involving at least 75 cities, including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Naples, and Genoa. In Milan, clashes broke out between protesters and law enforcement at the Central Station, with some groups attempting to break through the barriers, resulting in police intervention and dozens of injuries .

The Italian government condemned the incidents of violence, with Prime Minister Meloni calling the escalation of violence by the participants "unacceptable."

The images coming from Milan are shameful: self-styled 'pro-pal' activists, self-styled 'antifa' activists, and self-styled 'pacifists' devastating the station and sparking clashes with law enforcement. Violence and destruction that have nothing to do with solidarity and that won't change the lives of people in Gaza one bit, but will have concrete consequences for Italian citizens, who will end up suffering and paying for the damage caused by these thugs.

The demonstrations and general strike in support of Palestine have sparked heated political debate in Italy. Amid street clashes and injured police officers, the reactions of key leaders were swift. Elly Schlein, Giuseppe Conte, and Matteo Renzi expressed divergent positions, highlighting the profound differences within the Italian political landscape regarding the handling of the protests, the role of the government, and the approach to the Gaza crisis.

"Today, thousands upon thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand a stop to the genocide. We obviously firmly condemn acts of violence , which are never acceptable, and we also show solidarity with the officers who were injured. However, the government must focus on the widespread cry for a stop to the genocide , " said M5S President Giuseppe Conte on the sidelines of his visit to Jesi.

Among the most clear-cut reactions, that of Elly Schlein stands out, distinguishing between isolated violence and peaceful demonstrations:

I saw that Giorgia Meloni is calling on all political forces to condemn the events in Milan. I have no problem condemning the devastation of the Milan train station and the wounding of 60 police officers. We have always condemned all forms of political violence because we never consider it justifiable and because it is not our method, and never has been. However, we cannot accept that the violence of a few hundred protesters who attacked the train station covers up the tens of thousands of protesters who peacefully demonstrated for Gaza today across the country. And I say this because while we always condemn political violence, we are still waiting for Giorgia Meloni to condemn Netanyahu's crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, instead of doing and saying only what suits Trump and Netanyahu himself.

Matteo Renzi also highlighted the clear distinction between the peaceful protesters and those who caused damage and fear among citizens and commuters:

" Those who attacked the Milan train station and sowed fear and destruction in Italy are not protesters: they are hooligans . And they are destroying the good intentions of so many who took to the streets peacefully out of civic passion. And that minority of the left that justifies these people is giving the government the greatest gift. The children of Gaza cannot be helped by sowing panic among Milanese commuters and workers stuck in traffic, but with political proposals like those of the Arab League and Blair. Solidarity with the police and the citizens affected by the violence."