Yesterday (Saturday), hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, and other major European cities in a wave of anti-Israel rallies protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and Israel's recent interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla.
The protests, which drew families, students, unions, and activists of all ages, underscored mounting international fury over the two-year conflict, with chants of "Free Palestine," "Stop the Genocide," and "Hands off the Flotilla" echoing through urban centers.
Protests in Spain
In Spain's second-largest city, Barcelona, organizers estimated up to 70,000 participants packed the iconic Passeig de Gracia boulevard starting around noon, waving Palestinian flags and wearing pro-Palestine t-shirts. The rally, the third consecutive day of demonstrations in the city, was coordinated by groups including the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, the Stop Complicity with Israel Coalition, major trade unions like CCOO and UGT, and neighborhood associations.
Protesters urged governments and companies to "cut ties with Israel" and demanded the immediate release of detained flotilla activists, including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and Catalan MP Pilar Castillejo.Earlier in the week, around 15,000 marched through Barcelona on October 2, facing off with riot police who used truncheons and pepper spray to push back crowds attempting to breach barriers near the port.
Shameless demonstrators vandalized storefronts of international chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King, and Carrefour, calling for boycotts over alleged complicity in Israel's actions. Signs read: "Gaza hurts me," "I cannot believe I must protest against a genocide," and "Gaza bleeds to death, the world remains quiet."
In Madrid, similar marches drew thousands, with taxis joining the convoy in a show of "solidarity".
Global Sumud Flotilla spokesperson Pablo Castilla highlighted the urgency, stating, "Gaza is currently an extermination camp," while criticizing the Spanish government's failure to prevent the flotilla's interception. Over 40 Spaniards were among the 450+ activists detained by Israel.
