Activists calling for peace in Palestine begin hunger strike in Barcelona

They urge Spanish government to end arms trade with Israel

Gabriela Serra, Martí Olivella and Llum Mascaray on the first day of the hunger strike
Gabriela Serra, Martí Olivella and Llum Mascaray on the first day of the hunger strike / Blanca Blay
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

February 1, 2024 02:31 PM

Three peace activists began a hunger strike in Barcelona on Thursday, calling on Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez to take an "immediate" stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Gabriela Serra, Llum Mascaray and Martí Olivella, the three hunger strikers, are demanding that the Spanish government end its arms trade with Israel and support South Africa's genocide complaint against Israel at the United Nations International Court of Justice.

The activists will live on water only and will continue the hunger strike as long as the medical team monitoring them does not detect any risk to their health.

"To stop eating is an act of empathy with the people who are subjected every day to hunger for peace," they said at the event in Barcelona to announce the start of the hunger strike.

Activist Gabriela Serra said the hunger strike was "the appropriate nonviolent action" to draw attention to the conflict, in addition to other actions and protests. 

"We will resist as long as we can, that's the point," they added.