Thousands march in Spain to support Palestine

Thousands of people took to the streets in Spain's major cities to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people and called on the Spanish government to sever diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel.

The demonstration was organized by the CGT labor union who called for a symbolic general strike in support of Palestine and was supported by over 100 other organizations and student groups.

In Madrid thousands of people flooded the the capital's major avenues as they marched chanting slogans in support of Palestinians and carrying signs denouncing Israeli attacks as genocide.

Protesters also demonstrated in Spain's second largest city Barcelona and demonstrations were also organized in Valencia, Zaragoza, Burgos and Salamanca.

More than 200 trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Spain have initiated a 24-hour general strike titled "Against the genocide and occupation in Palestine."

As part of the nationwide strike, demonstrations took place in the capital Madrid and other major cities such as Barcelona and Bilbao, with university students suspending classes in solidarity.

The unions and NGOs expressed that Israel's attacks on Gaza have become "intolerable," urging the Spanish government to "immediately cut diplomatic, commercial, and military relations with Israel" to prevent its participation in "Israel's ethnic cleansing."

The unions organized various demonstrations throughout the day, including protests at factories that produce military equipment and in front of the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Madrid.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since last October.

More than 41,500 people, most of them women and children, have since been killed and more than 96,000 injured, according to local health authorities.