Spain hit by mass pro-Palestine strike

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Spain in a nationwide strike and demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine, with major protests in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Pamplona, Girona and other cities. Organised by trade unions and pro‑Palestine groups, the mobilisations called for an end to diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel and for legal action against Israeli leaders. The strike included two coordinated stoppages and some unions called for a 24‑hour work halt; several media outlets limited normal broadcasting to cover the protests.

In Barcelona, organisers and local police gave differing estimates of attendance but roughly 15,000 people marched from Sants station toward the Israeli consulate. Clashes broke out when a minority of demonstrators attacked fast‑food outlets and set fire to dumpsters; footage showed smashed windows at establishments including Burger King, Starbucks and McDonald’s. Police intervened repeatedly, using pepper spray and, according to eyewitnesses, rubber bullets; authorities arrested 15 people, 11 of them minors. Protesters also tried to breach barriers around the consulate and some attempted to block the departure of Israeli basketball players from a nearby arena.

Madrid’s demonstration, estimated at about 11,000 people, was largely peaceful though chants called for the closure of the Israeli embassy and for “decolonization of Palestine.” Thousands joined rallies in other cities, with local actions ranging from large marches to smaller sit‑ins and street blockades. Organisers and speakers framed the strike as a denunciation of long‑term occupation and recent violence in Gaza, insisting that a ceasefire and prisoner releases did not address what they described as structural injustice.

Authorities and rights groups reported clashes and instances of vandalism in several locations; in some places firefighters were called to extinguish blazes set during demonstrations. Police in Catalonia and Valencia faced accusations from protesters of using excessive force while trying to disperse crowds and protect sensitive sites.

The action sparked political debate domestically. Spain’s government has taken a critical stance on Israel in recent months, including approving an arms embargo; opponents and pro‑Israel groups accused organisers and some political actors of stoking violence and polarising public opinion. Organisers and union leaders defended the strike as a legitimate expression of solidarity and a demand for justice for Palestinians, calling for sustained pressure on governments and companies seen as complicit.