Demonstrations erupt in cities including Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, and London, with over 100 arrests reported by authorities.
Massive crowds have gathered across Europe’s major urban centers to voice opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Large-scale protests are underway in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, reflecting widespread public dissent.
In Spain, demonstrations were organized weeks in advance in Barcelona-the country’s second-largest city-and Madrid. Meanwhile, protests in Rome and Lisbon gained momentum following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces. This humanitarian convoy, which departed from Barcelona, aimed to challenge Israel’s flotilla-drone-attacks-explosions/” title=”Drone Strikes and Explosions Target … Aid …, Activists Report | Israel…… Conflict Update”>naval blockade of Gaza, a region suffering from severe food shortages.
Among the 450 activists detained from the flotilla, over 40 are Spanish nationals, including a former mayor of Barcelona. This incident has intensified public outrage and galvanized support for the Palestinian cause across Europe.
Italy witnessed a remarkable turnout last Friday, with over two million people participating in a nationwide general strike to express solidarity with Gaza’s population.
Spain has experienced a notable rise in pro-Palestinian sentiment recently, coinciding with its government’s increased diplomatic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right administration. Last month, protests disrupted the Spanish Vuelta cycling race due to the involvement of an Israeli-owned team. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the Gaza conflict as “genocide” and advocated for banning Israeli teams from international sports competitions.
These European protests coincide with Hamas’s announcement that it has accepted certain aspects of a peace proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to end the devastating two-year conflict that has claimed over 66,000 lives and left Gaza devastated.
Barcelona’s municipal authorities estimated that approximately 70,000 people participated in Saturday’s rally. The city’s iconic Passeig de Gracia was filled with demonstrators of all ages, including many families. Palestinian flags were prominently displayed, and participants wore apparel expressing solidarity with Palestine.
Signs carried by protesters conveyed powerful messages such as “Gaza Hurts,” “End the Genocide,” and “Free the Flotilla.”
Maria Jesus Parra, a 63-year-old who traveled an hour from a nearby town to join the march, held a Palestinian flag aloft. She implored the European Union to intervene against the atrocities she witnesses daily through media coverage.
“How can we stand by and watch genocide unfold live, especially after Europe’s own dark history in the 1940s?” Parra questioned. “There is no excuse for ignorance anymore.”
Detentions in London
In Rome, a demonstration organized by Palestinian groups alongside local unions and student organizations is underway. The march is set to proceed from Porta San Paolo to San Giovanni, with authorities anticipating tens of thousands of participants, according to state broadcaster Rai.
London is also hosting a protest supporting the banned group Palestine Action, despite police urging a postponement following a fatal synagogue attack in Manchester earlier this week.
The Manchester incident resulted in two fatalities, with police fatally shooting the assailant, a British citizen of Syrian heritage.
At London’s central Trafalgar Square, law enforcement has detained at least 175 individuals during the main protest event on Saturday.
Officers removed seated demonstrators who were painting slogans on placards backing Palestine Action, while bystanders chanted “shame on you” at the police presence.
Organizers declined police and government requests to cancel the rally, which had been planned prior to the Manchester attack, to protest the proscription of Palestine Action under anti-terror legislation.
Authorities expressed concern that the protests would divert resources from heightened security measures around synagogues and mosques following the recent violence.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed for restraint in a message posted on X Saturday morning, stating: “I urge anyone considering protesting this weekend to respect the grief of British Jews.”
“This is a time for mourning, not for inflaming tensions or causing additional suffering. We must stand united,” he emphasized.
In Dublin, thousands gathered to commemorate the two-year anniversary of Israel’s offensive on Gaza and to call on the Irish government to impose sanctions on Israel, according to local reports.
The demonstration followed news that 16 Irish nationals were among those detained by Israeli forces after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Meanwhile, Athens is hosting a protest on Saturday afternoon, with police anticipating a larger demonstration on Sunday to coincide with a pro-Israel rally.
