Europe Erupts After Israel Stops Greta's Flotilla | WATCH

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.

Rome and Italy: Flotilla Fury Fuels Nationwide Strike and Marches

In Rome, hundreds of thousands, with organizers claiming up to 2 million across Italy, joined a massive march organized by Palestinian groups, local unions, and students. The procession filed past the Colosseum, chanting "Free Palestine" and blocking traffic on key routes. Police estimated 10,000 in Rome alone, part of a broader wave that included occupations at universities in Milan (Statale), Rome (La Sapienza), and Bologna, where protesters used car tires to seal off entrances.

The demonstrations followed a one-day general strike called by Italy's largest union, CGIL, on Friday, October 3, in direct support of the flotilla. Health workers participated in flash mobs, shining lights and reading names of 1,677 medical personnel killed in Gaza. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed 22 Italian citizens were among the detained. In Turin, hundreds blocked the city's ring road, amplifying calls for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to advocate for the activists' release.

The Spark: Israel's Interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla

The protests erupted after Israeli naval forces on October 1-2, 2025, intercepted nearly all 41 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy that departed Barcelona on August 31 supposedly carrying symbolic humanitarian aid like food, medicine, and baby formula to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, maintained jointly with Egypt to curb arms smuggling to Hamas.

Activists, including ex-climate icon Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela, and over 470 others from dozens of countries, refused to offload aid at an Israeli port for land transport into Gaza, insisting on direct delivery.

The Israeli military towed the boats to Ashdod port without reported injuries, detaining participants for processing and planned deportation. The flotilla group reported mistreatment in Israeli prisons, with legal aid organizations decrying the conditions.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the action as "thuggery," while European leaders from Spain to Italy faced pressure to impose sanctions.

Rallies spread to Lisbon, Paris (1,000+ at Place de la République, with tear gas clashes), Marseille (100 arrests near a weapons firm), Berlin, Geneva, Dublin (hundreds outside parliament), The Hague, and London (over 400 arrests).

In Marseille, protesters targeted Eurolinks, accused of supplying Israel with military parts.

Globally, demonstrations hit Karachi, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Kuala Lumpur, Brasilia, and even Australia, with crowds condemning the blockade and demanding aid access.

In London on Saturday, police arrested several dozen in the city center amid heightened tensions. Ireland also saw significant turnout, drawing parallels to its anti-colonial history, with 16 Irish nationals detained from the flotilla.

These events reflect surging pro-Palestinian sentiment across Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy, where governments are intensifying diplomatic pushes against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration.

The detained activists remain in processing, with deportation flights underway.