Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators march in Barcelona amid four-day Gaza ceasefire
Protest comes shortly after minor diplomatic crisis between Israel and Spain
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the streets of Barcelona calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Under the slogan "Stop the genocide in Palestine," demonstrators protested against Israeli bombings in Palestinian territory.
They chanted "Boycott Israel," "Free Palestine," "Zionist state, terrorist state" and "Gaza, you are not alone." They also criticized European leaders for selling arms to Israel.
The protest coincided with a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Spain is one of the few voices in the European Union that supports Palestine. And the protest comes shortly after a minor diplomatic crisis erupted between Israel and Spain.
On Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on the international community, particularly the European Union, to recognize the Palestinian state and did not rule out doing so unilaterally.
These words did not go down well with Israel, which summoned the Spanish ambassador, Ana María Salomón, shortly after Sánchez's speech to give her a "harsh reprimand."
Barcelona's disagreement with Netanyahu's government was also evident this week. On Friday, Barcelona's city council severed ties with the Israeli government.
In a controversial move, the council said relations would not be resumed "until there is a permanent ceasefire that guarantees respect for the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people."