Pro-Palestinian Protests Erupt Across Europe: Barcelona, Rome, and Beyond
Tens of thousands of people participated in pro-Palestinian protests across Europe on Saturday, with major demonstrations in Barcelona and Rome. These rallies reflect growing anger over Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the recent interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla.
Widespread Protests in Spain
Barcelona saw an estimated 70,000 people marching through its streets, according to the town hall's police estimates. Protesters carried Palestinian flags and signs with messages like "Gaza hurts me" and "Stop the Genocide." The protests in Spain's second-largest city, as well as in Madrid, were planned weeks in advance. Demonstrators demanded an end to arms trade with Israel.
The demonstrations followed the interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla, the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had set sail from Barcelona in an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza. Over 40 Spaniards were among the activists detained by Israel. María Jesús Parra, a protester who traveled from another town to Barcelona, urged the European Union to take action against the situation in Gaza, comparing it to the horrors of the 1940s. Spain has seen increased support for Palestinians recently, and its government has intensified diplomatic efforts against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
Italian Protests and Political Reactions
In Rome, protesters marched near the Colosseum. Organizers claimed a turnout of one million people, though there were no official estimates. The protests were organized by Palestinian organizations, local unions, and students. Demonstrators chanted in support of Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories. Opposition lawmaker Riccardo Magi criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government for its refusal to recognize a Palestinian state.
Broader European Demonstrations and International Context
Further protests were planned in Madrid and Lisbon, with smaller rallies in Athens and Skopje, North Macedonia. The protests coincide with ongoing discussions about a ceasefire and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Hamas has stated it has accepted some elements of the plan laid out by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict. In Spain, protests against an Israeli-owned cycling team previously disrupted the Spanish Vuelta. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has previously described the destruction in Gaza as a "genocide."
The war in Gaza began following Hamas's attack in October 2023. Since then, the conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with reports indicating that at least 66,288 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health ministry figures in the occupied territory that the United Nations considers reliable, in addition to 1,219 people killed in the Hamas attack. The protests across Europe highlight the growing international concern and pressure for a resolution to the conflict.
