A massive wave of anti-Israel demonstrations swept through southern Europe on Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of Italians and Spaniards took to the streets in Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid to protest Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The protests, described as some of the largest in Europe since the conflict began two years ago, reflected growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
In Spain, officials estimated that about 100,000 people joined the march in Madrid, while another 70,000 gathered in Barcelona. However, organizers claimed the actual figures were significantly higher — up to 400,000 in Madrid and 300,000 in Barcelona.
In Italy, the protests in Rome followed widespread anger over Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla that had departed from Barcelona earlier in the week in an attempt to break the blockade on Gaza. Rome police reported 250,000 demonstrators, while organizers claimed that 1 million people turned out for the second consecutive day of protests.
The massive turnout came just a day after more than two million Italians participated in a one-day general strike to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The demonstrations coincided with reports that Hamas has agreed to some elements of a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the long-running war. The conflict has devastated Gaza, leaving its largest city on the brink of famine and prompting accusations of genocide against Israel.
Chants for peace, Palestinian flags, and calls for an immediate ceasefire filled the streets across southern Europe, underscoring a shifting tide of public sentiment demanding an end to the violence in Gaza.
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