Mass demonstrations have swept across the world following Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian convoy bound for Gaza. The flotilla—comprising 41 ships and more than 400 passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, South African MP Mandla Mandela, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau—was attempting to deliver aid to a population the UN warns is facing famine after nearly two years of war.
From Europe to South America, Africa, and Australia, tens of thousands took to the streets on Thursday to denounce Israel’s blockade and call for stronger sanctions.
- Spain: In Barcelona, an estimated 15,000 protesters marched, chanting “Gaza, you are not alone” and “Freedom for Palestine.” Riot police clashed with demonstrators attempting to breach barriers. Ada Colau, intercepted at sea, now faces deportation alongside other activists.
- Ireland: Several hundred gathered outside parliament in Dublin, linking Palestinian solidarity to Ireland’s anti-colonial struggle. One mother of a flotilla participant said: “She is standing up for humanity in the face of grave danger.”
- France: Around 1,000 assembled at Paris’s Place de la République, while in Marseille, police arrested 100 protesters attempting to block a weapons manufacturer accused of supplying Israel.
- Italy: Rome saw 10,000 demonstrators, with major unions calling a nationwide strike in solidarity.
- Other Cities: Berlin, The Hague, Tunis, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and Istanbul witnessed marches demanding a total embargo on Israel. In Brussels, 3,000 gathered outside the European Parliament amid smoke bombs and firecrackers.
The protests reflect growing international outrage as Gaza endures worsening humanitarian conditions under siege. Calls for boycotts, sanctions, and embargoes against Israel have intensified in the wake of the flotilla’s interception.
At the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down, vowing to “finish the job” in Gaza—a statement that has only further fueled the global outcry.
