Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets across Spain and Italy over the weekend, with clashes erupting between protesters and police in multiple cities. In Barcelona, eight people were arrested and 20 officers injured after demonstrators vandalised shops they claimed were linked to Israel, according to police.
Tens of thousands also protested in Madrid and other Spanish cities, as well as in Rome and Lisbon, in response to Israel stopping the Global Sumud Flotilla—a multinational convoy directly funded and coordinated by the terrorist group Hamas.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that out of the 49 Spaniards detained by Israeli forces on the flotilla, 21 would return to Spain from Tel Aviv on Sunday, October 5th.
In Rome, the fourth consecutive day of protests saw hundreds of thousands march past the Colosseum, while police estimated the crowd at 250,000. The demonstrations included anti-Israeli chants and at least one banner praising Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack, where the terrorist group killed over 1,200 people and and took 251 hostage.
Towards the end of the march, around 200 protesters clashed with officers near the St. Mary Major basilica. Police used tear gas and water cannons, detaining 12 suspects and recording the identities of 262 others.
After the statue of Pope John Paul II outside the main train station in Rome was defaced by graffiti, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the protesters, saying: “They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology.”
