Protests Erupt Across Southern Europe Over Gaza Conflict
Barcelona, Spain – Thousands are taking to the streets in Barcelona and other cities like Madrid as Spain, Italy, and Portugal hold demonstrations against the Israeli war in Gaza.
While the protests in Spain’s second largest city and Madrid have been organized for weeks, similar calls in Rome and Lisbon are attempting to respond to the recent interception of aid ships originating from Barcelona, aimed at breaking the blockade on Palestinian territories.
In Italy, over 2 million people participated in a nationwide strike on Friday to show support for those in Gaza.
Recently, Spain has witnessed a surge in support for Palestinian rights. However, the leftist government has intensified diplomatic actions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing administration. Last month, protests regarding Israeli-owned cycling teams disrupted the Vuelta, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez labeling the destruction in Gaza as “genocide” and advocating for a ban on Israeli teams from international sporting events.
Demonstrations across Southern Europe, meanwhile, argue that Hamas has adopted some elements of a plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, critiquing the resulting humanitarian crisis and raising accusations of genocide against Israel.
In Barcelona, the atmosphere is filled with families and individuals of all ages joining together. They proudly wave Palestinian flags and don T-shirts supporting the cause. Signs with messages like “Gaza is hurting me,” “Stop genocide,” and “I’ve got a circle” dot the crowd.
While these protests may not immediately influence the Israeli government, organizers hope they will inspire more demonstrations and prompt European leaders to impose stricter measures against Israel.
One protester, 63-year-old Maria Jesus Para, traveled from a nearby town to Barcelona. She hopes the European Union will take a stand against what she describes as a “fear” stemming from the daily news reports.
“What should we do after what we (as Europe) experienced in the 1940s, and we are witnessing lifelong genocide happening?” Para remarked. “Now, no one can say they didn’t know what was going on.”
Protests in Rome, Madrid, and Lisbon are expected to continue throughout Saturday, with additional gatherings planned in various other Spanish cities.
The ongoing war in Gaza escalated after Hamas’s assault on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israeli strikes on Gaza have led to over 67,000 deaths and nearly 170,000 injuries, per the Gaza health ministry.
This ministry reports directly to the Hamas-led government, and numerous United Nations agencies and independent analysts regard these figures as reliable estimates of wartime casualties.
