Europe rises in solidarity with Palestine and the Flotilla

Solidarity with the Palestinian people is spreading across Europe’s main cities. In recent days, millions have taken to the streets to denounce Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the abduction of Global Sumud Flotilla activists.

Broadcast live to the world, the interception of the vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Palestine sparked a wave of new protests. The same occurred this Saturday (4), after the first testimonies emerged describing mistreatment in Israeli prisons.

In Spain, massive demonstrations took place on Saturday in Madrid and Barcelona. In Barcelona, where the Flotilla’s boats had departed, at least 70,000 people gathered to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza.

Crowds filled the wide Passeig de Gracia, the city’s central avenue. Many families attended, along with people of all ages. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and wore shirts in support of Palestine.

In the United Kingdom, thousands gathered in London on Saturday despite police requests to postpone the demonstration following a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester earlier this week.

Police repression was reported in the British capital. Around 400 people were arrested during the pro-Palestine march. As arrests took place, many shouted “shame” at the officers.

On the same day, a crowd also filled the streets of Dublin, Ireland, marking two years since Israel’s renewed aggression in Gaza. Protesters called on their government to impose sanctions against the Zionist regime.

Italy leads the way

A protest in Rome also took place on Saturday, organized by three Palestinian organizations, local unions, and student groups. Demonstrators marched from Porta San Paolo to San Giovanni.

It was the third consecutive day of mobilizations. On Friday (3), a massive general strike swept the country, with more than two million people marching for Palestine in a historic show of solidarity.

Despite criticism from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—who argued the strike would not advance the Palestinian cause and would only inconvenience Italians—protests were recorded in at least 29 cities.

In several cities, including Milan and Bologna, police repression was reported, with tear gas fired at crowds. In Pisa, a group with colored flares entered the airport runway, temporarily halting flights.

In Naples, dockworkers blocked the port, as they had promised to do if the Flotilla were prevented from reaching Gaza. In Turin, protesters placed metal barriers across railway tracks.

In Rome, the crowd waved huge Palestinian flags, chanting “We’re blocking everything!” as they marched through a long tunnel that amplified their voices, while police watched from a distance.

“An unprecedented protest movement is taking shape today. Thousands of people are already on the streets. Tomorrow will be similar, and on Friday we will strike, breaking Italian law that forbids strikes without prior notice. On Saturday, there will be more initiatives for the national demonstration in Rome. All grassroots unions and the CGIL are in the streets. I hope the people in your cities will also join in defense of the flotilla,” said Marcelo Amendola (CUB).