Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Barcelona and other major Spanish cities on Thursday, protesting Israel’s interception of a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian aid destined for Gaza.
In Barcelona, groups of marchers waving Palestinian flags converged on the central Plaza de les Drassanes from different parts of the city. Chants of ‘Gaza, you are not alone’, ‘Boycott Israel’, and ‘Freedom for Palestine’ rang out through the crowd.
Municipal police, the Guárdia Urbana, estimated that about 15,000 people joined the demonstration in Barcelona. Authorities in Madrid reported that around 10,000 took part in a similar protest there. Other cities including Bilbao, Seville and Valencia also saw rallies the same evening.
As the Barcelona march reached the entry to a highway, riot officers moved in to stop the advance. Public television footage showed police using batons after some protesters tried to climb barriers, pushing the front rows back.
The flotilla in question – the Global Sumud Flotilla, made up of roughly 45 boats with activists and politicians on board – had left Barcelona last month with the declared aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The United Nations has warned that famine conditions are present in the enclave after nearly two years of conflict.
On Wednesday, Israel’s navy the vessels at sea, having previously cautioned participants against sailing into what it considers its blockade zone. Among those halted was a boat carrying former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. ALSO READ: Israel transfers Greta Thunberg and 90 other flotilla activists to port as 23 vessels continue sailing.
Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said he had called in Israel’s senior diplomat in Madrid over the incident, noting that 65 Spanish nationals were part of the flotilla. Meanwhile, the Spanish public prosecutor’s office announced it would seek details of the interception as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged human rights violations by Israel’s military in Gaza.
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🔴 ÚLTIMA HORA | La manifestació per Palestina obliga a tallar la sortida 21 de la ronda Litoral
— RAC1 (@rac1) October 2, 2025
👉 Els Mossos carreguen per evitar l’entrada dels protestants als túnels a la plaça de les Drassanes https://t.co/RohtUb3LLS pic.twitter.com/bbm0UYVop5
🇵🇸 Milers de persones es concentren ja a la plaça de les Drassanes, al barri del Poble-sec, en protesta per la intercepció de la flotilla que es dirigia cap a Gaza.
— Pau Gatell (@PauGatell) October 2, 2025
Els manifestants reclamen a les institucions tallar tota mena de relació amb Israel i obrir un corredor humanitari pic.twitter.com/ALNxvEULwY
📢 Centenars de persones es manifesten a la plaça de Drassanes de Barcelona contra l’atac d’Israel a la Flotilla.
La pancarta ‘Aturem el genocidi’ encapçala la marxa | @RTVECatalunya pic.twitter.com/8T3cNtTGlI
— RTVE Notícies (@rtvenoticies) October 2, 2025
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