15,000 gather in Barcelona to protest against Israel's interception of Global Sumud Flotilla

15,000 people gathered in Barcelona's Plaça de la Carbonera, at the bottom of Parallel, to protest against Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels on Thursday evening. 

Demonstrators blocked traffic on the Ronda Litoral, the primary ring road on the side of the city closest to the sea, at Plaça de les Drassanes, very close to the bottom of La Rambla.

Numerous Mossos d'Esquadra police officers in riot gear were present, with some moments of tension between agents and protesters.

Some stones were thrown at police officers, while the agents prevented the demonstrators from accessing the highway by deterring demonstrators with their batons. A protest banner that read 'Palestine will win. From the river to the sea' was also confiscated from the demonstrators. 

After the confrontation with police, the crowd turned around and congregated in the Plaça de les Drassanes area. 

Among the chants heard were 'Stop the genocide', 'Destroy the Zionist state of Israel', 'Free Palestine', 'Boycott Israel', and 'Occupying forces out'.

Protestors with red paint on their hands left handprints on the ground in front of the police.

Despite the clashes with police at the entrance to the highway, the vast majority of the demonstration was peaceful.

Protesters of all ages have turned out to participate in the rally. Nora, 18, told the Catalan News Agency that for her, the issue is not a question of “right or left”. “I am Moroccan and Muslim, and the issue is close to me, but it must touch all people without conditions because it is about basic human rights,” she explained.

Another demonstrator, Trina, said she will demonstrate again this Saturday in Barcelona, a city she says always has “solidarity" when necessary.

Francesc believes that measures such as a sports and cultural boycott of Israel can be an effective way of acting for civil society. He also demanded that the Spanish government break relations with Israel once and for all.

Another protester, Toni, agreed with the idea of boycotting products and companies that support weapons projects in Israel.

Igualada protest

Hundreds of people have gathered in the Town Hall square in Igualada on Thursday evening to show their rejection of Israel's interception of the boats.

The protest was called by several groups and entities in the city and is part of the set of mobilizations that are simultaneously taking place throughout Catalonia.

The protesters have shown banners that read 'Long live free Palestine' and have shouted chants such as 'It's not a war, it's a genocide' and 'General strike'.

A minute's silence has also been held during the protest.

Flotilla interception

In the past 24 hours, the flotilla of dozens of boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was stopped short of reaching the shore by the Israeli military.

Those on board, including former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, have been detained and are expected to be deported. 

In response, people gathered on Wednesday evening in front of the Israeli consulate, while 6,500 students protested earlier on Thursday afternoon against Israel's war in Gaza. 

Organizers say "It was up to our governments to prevent" the flotilla from being intercepted, but "the Spanish government has chosen to take its complicity one step further."

"Let us remember that the flotilla was sailing to do what the governments have not done: break the illegal siege."

The call to protest describes Israel as "a colonial and genocidal state that acts with total impunity" in its "ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people."

6,500 students protest

Student unions in Catalonia called a strike and rallies on Thursday to "stop the genocide against the Palestinian people."

In Barcelona, around 6,500 students, according to local Guàrdia Urbana police, left classes and gathered at Plaça Universitat at noon. The demonstration started a few minutes later with chants in favor of Palestinian freedom and against Israel.

"We must put an end to this and put a stop to the worst genocide of the 21st century," Lua Millet, one of the spokespersons, said at the start of the rally.

"We will organize the biggest demonstration Barcelona has ever seen," she added.

Protesters at the rally chanted slogans such as "Free, free Palestine" and "Boycott Israel." During the march, many screamed against Israel and wondered where the governments that are supposed to be in favor of Palestine were. Many said that the "Zionist state is a terrorist state."

The demonstration started at Universitat Square and walked down the city center to Sant Jaume square, where the Catalan government headquarters and the Barcelona city council are located.

Throughout the route, demonstrators faced several international businesses, such as Burger King, Carrefour, and Starbucks, and called for a boycott on those establishments. 

Some of the posters visible during the rally read: 'I cannot believe I must protest against a genocide,' and 'Gaza bleeds to death, the world remains quiet.'

A rally had also been called in Tarragona, beginning at Plaça Imperial Tàrraco at the same time of 12 noon. Organizers said there were around 300 people, among them, Anhel Escorihuela, one of the spokesperson for the Sindicat d'Estudiants, who said that "everybody has the responsability to fight for this genocide to come to an end."

In Tarragona, Maria and Queralt, two high-school students from the town of Montblanc said that they took to the streets to "condemn the inhuman events taking place in Palestine."

There were around 200 more demonstrators in the northern city of Girona, who halted classes at the University of Girona.

Flotilla sends video message

"The genocidal state of Israel is intercepting the humanitarian Global Sumud Flotilla with 20 military vessels," the Sindicat d'Estudiants posted on X on Wednesday evening. "This is unbearable, break all ties with Israel now! Stop the genocide! Everyone to the protests tomorrow!"

Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla sent a video message calling for participation in the student strike.