On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in both Barcelona and Rome, marking the second consecutive day of protests in Italy against Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. These gatherings are a response to rising discontent following Israel’s interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla attempting to breach a naval blockade on Palestinian territories.
Massive turnout in Spain
In Barcelona, organizers reported that over 300,000 individuals participated in the demonstrations, though police estimates suggested a lower figure of around 70,000. The protests in Barcelona and Madrid had been planned for weeks and reflect a significant increase in support for the Palestinian cause in Spain in recent weeks. This surge in activism coincides with the Spanish left-wing government’s heightened diplomatic efforts to challenge the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right administration.
Last month, the Spanish Vuelta cycling race saw protests against the participation of an Israeli-owned cycling team, further emphasizing the growing sentiment against Israel’s actions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez labeled the destruction in Gaza as “genocide” and called for a ban on all Israeli teams from participating in international sporting events.
Italy joins the movement
Italy has also witnessed a significant mobilization in support of Palestinians, with over 2 million people reportedly participating in a nationwide general strike on Friday. The march in Rome wound its way past the iconic Colosseum, with organizers—comprising three Palestinian organizations along with local unions and student groups—claiming that approximately 1 million people took part in the event, although no official figures were provided.
As demonstrations in Madrid and Lisbon continue on Saturday, additional protests are expected to occur in various other Spanish cities. Furthermore, smaller gatherings were held in Athens and Skopje, North Macedonia, with Greek police anticipating a larger protest on Sunday that will coincide with a pro-Israeli demonstration.