Massive Protests Across Europe Over Gaza Conflict
Hundreds of thousands protested across Europe against Israel's Gaza campaign. Madrid and Barcelona saw the largest crowds with police and organizers disputing numbers. The protests reveal growing public dissent over Western government positions on the conflict.
Hundreds of thousands joined protests in major European cities on Saturday. They demonstrated against Israel's military actions in Gaza. Police reported at least 70,000 participants in Barcelona and 100,000 in Madrid. Organizers claimed much higher numbers of 300,000 and 400,000 respectively.
Protesters in Barcelona carried Palestinian flags and signs reading 'Stop the genocide'. One banner referenced the Global Sumud Flotilla activist convoy with 'Hands off the flotilla'.
Demonstrator María Jesús Parra questioned how the world could witness genocide in real time. She noted this generation cannot claim ignorance like during 1940s atrocities. Her comments came in a public statement.
In Rome, police estimated 250,000 protesters while organizers insisted one million attended. These numbers show deep European division over the Gaza conflict. The scale suggests Western governments face growing pressure over their Middle East positions.
Why such massive turnout months into the conflict? European publics appear increasingly unwilling to accept official narratives about the war.