Protesting Spanish cities demand the immediate implementation of a comprehensive arms embargo by the government towards Israel.

Spain Witnesses Nationwide Protests Against Israel's Actions in Gaza

Spain has seen a wave of protests across the country in response to Israel's actions in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The demonstrations, which began in February 2025, gained momentum following the announcement of an arms embargo on Israel.

During the period between February and May 2025, Spain was the European Union country that imported the most weapons and ammunition to Israel. This fact was highlighted as proof of the non-application of the arms embargo.

One of the most significant protests took place at La Vuelta, a prominent cycling race. Nearly a thousand people blocked the final stretch of the stage, leading to the stage ending 8 kilometers before the planned finish due to new protests in favour of the Palestinian people. Spanish parliamentarians from the party Izquierda Unida (United Left) actively protested against Israel’s actions in Gaza by demanding the exclusion of the Israeli team from the Vuelta a España.

In Barcelona, around 150 people gathered outside the Catalan Government Delegation to demand a complete and integral embargo on Israel, including diplomatic, economic, and political relations. Protests have also been held in front of the Government Delegation of La Rioja, in Logroño, by Acampada por Palestina and Amistad con Palestina. In Huelva, Marea Palestina Huelva called on the educational community and the general public to participate in a sit-in at the Escuela de Arte León Ortega.

Protests continued in various cities across the country, including Seville, where around 300 people gathered outside the Government Sub-delegation in the Torre Norte of Plaza de España to protest against Israel's actions in the armed conflict in Gaza. In Cadiz, the Cadiz with Palestine platform claims to have gathered around 100 people outside the Government Sub-delegation.

The Council of Ministers in Spain approved a decree with nine measures to stop the "genocide". However, the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (Rescop) and the Seville Palestine Solidarity Platform have expressed concerns about the decree, stating that it has shortcomings and needs to be analysed carefully.

The protests in Valencia were attended by several leaders of Compromís, such as Isaura Navarro and Papi Robles, and the trade union representative Ana García Alcolea (CCOO PV). The protest was described as a "popular outcry" that called for an end to the "genocide in Gaza" and the severing of all ties with Israel. The Platform Civic Vigo Pro-Palestina called for a concentration at the Alto de San Cosme, considering that La Vuelta "whitewashes the genocide" by allowing the participation of the Israel Premier Tech team.

Rescop, the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine, gathered in 13 Spanish cities on Tuesday. The network demands a complete and integral embargo on Israel, including the stopping of all sales and purchases, the prohibition of transit of ships with weapons and energy through Spanish territory, and the termination of ongoing contracts and all types of relations in bilateral and multilateral spaces.

The protests in Spain reflect widespread political and civil society engagement against the ongoing conflict and alleged "genocide" in Gaza. The situation remains a topic of ongoing discussion and action in Spain.

Protesting Spanish cities demand the immediate implementation of a comprehensive arms embargo by the government towards Israel.