Over 500 groups call Barcelona protest to denounce Gaza 'genocide'

More than 500 organizations have backed a protest in Barcelona on Saturday, October 4, aimed at denouncing the "genocide" in Gaza.

Organizers hope it will be Catalonia's largest demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people to date, and have asked attendees to wear black as a symbol of mourning for the victims of the war.

During a presentation event on Tuesday in Plaça del Rei, Natàlia Abu-Sharar, president of the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, urged Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, to reject Donald Trump's "colonial plan" for Gaza.

Abu-Sharar also called on the Catalan president, Salvador Illa, to cut all ties with Israel, and demanded that pro-independence Junts take a clear position on the proposed arms embargo decree.

The groups also expressed solidarity with the Gaza aid flotilla.

The protest organizers include the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, Stop Complicity with Israel Coalition, the Global Sumud Flotilla; the CCOO, UGT, and Intersindical trade unions; neighborhood organizations like CONFAVC and FAVB; feminist groups such as Ca la Dona; and groups for global justice and development like LaFede.

'Largest demonstration in history'

Abu-Sharar issued a "call to the entire population, people from towns and cities across Catalonia, to take to the streets to show firm and clear rejection of the genocide being carried out by the Zionist state of Israel against the Palestinian people." 

Alys Samson from the Stop Complicity with Israel Coalition said: "We need Saturday to be the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in Catalonia’s history, to demonstrate clearly and firmly that we stand with Palestine."

Protest demands

Organizers of Saturday's demonstration are calling for Pedro Sánchez to reject the "colonial plan" presented by Donald Trump on Monday and for all political parties to approve the arms embargo decree in the Spanish Congress.

They singled out Carles Puigdemont's Junts as the only Catalan party that has not yet taken a public position.

Organizers are also demanding that the Catalan government cut all ties with Israel, and together with Barcelona City Council, "prevent the genocidal state of Israel from participating in trade fairs hosted at Fira de Barcelona."

Pablo Castilla from Global Movement to Gaza also spoke, denouncing the "attacks and threats" faced by the Gaza aid flotilla.