Spaniards rally en masse to call for Gaza truce, reject ties with Israel

Hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters staged rallies across Spain demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urging the government to break institutional ties and end arms trade with Israel.

Spaniards on Saturday staged anti-Israel rallies in more than 90 municipalities throughout Spain, with the largest one in the capital Madrid, where over 50,000 people are estimated to have participated in solidarity with Palestine.

In Madrid, large crowds waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Ceasefire now,” and “Free Palestine.”

Others were carrying banners and posters that read “Not in our name, not with my money,” “Israel murders, Europe sponsors,” or “We want to ask Pedro Sánchez how many children have to be killed to break with criminal Zionism.”

“The horror we are witnessing is unacceptable for any advanced society,” Fernando Gallardo, a 49-year-old insurance sector employee participating in the protest said.

Protests also hold placards and banners calling for boycotting Israel.

“No human being can condone this genocide and massacre,” said Aida Rodrigez another protester adding that “attacking hospitals and civilians are barbarism and anyone who says ‘I am human’ cannot remain silent.”

Some protesters also carried South African flags, after that country brought a case against Israel to the UN’s top court, accusing Tel Aviv of genocide against Palestinians.

In Madrid, Spain, thousands assembled to denounce Israel's genocide and show solidarity with Gaza. pic.twitter.com/lpktnYab62

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) January 20, 2024

The protest was organized by the Solidarity Network against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP), a conglomerate of over 100 civil society organizations in Spain.

The organizers urged the Spanish government to sever all political, economic, cultural, and sporting relations with Israel and take concrete steps for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to stop the genocide.

They called Spain Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to join South Africa’s lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, ending the arms trade with Israel and breaking relations.

The demonstration, which was also supported by some left-wing political parties MPs, observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

“The government is very close to taking Spain to war against Yemen to protect [Israel]. We demand concrete steps to stop this genocide. We are very concerned. Spain should support South Africa’s genocide case application to the International Court of Justice both legally and in front of its people,” Ione Belarra, a former minister said.

Belarra, leader of the Podemos Party,  was Spain’s minister for social rights until she was removed from her post by Sánchez in November over her targeting of the “deafening silence” of her country and the regime’s other Western allies on Tel Aviv’s ferocious war.

Thousands rally in the city of Valencia, Spain, to demand ceasefire in Gaza#WeAreAllGaza pic.twitter.com/gPoeXd1u0W

— Palestine Highlights (@PalHighlight) January 21, 2024

The rally was the largest since Israel’s relentless attacks on the Gaza Strip began on October 7, as many have come out week after week for similar demonstrations, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza while demanding the Spanish government end its support for Israel.

Similar pro-Palestine rallies were also held in other cities around Spain such as Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville and Granada.

Gaza genocide: Birmingham hosts ceasefire now demo

The UK

Since Israel launched its genocidal campaign against Gaza, global pro-Palestinian demonstrations involving millions of people from all walks of society have been held in major cities, including London, Paris, Rome, Toronto, Washington, New York, and Jakarta, among others.

The relentless Israeli military aggression has so far killed at least 25,000 people in Gaza, more than 10,000 of whom are children, while 62,000 others have been wounded.

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