Thousands of Students Protest Across Spain Against Israel’s Gaza Offensive

Thousands of students staged walkouts across 35 Spanish cities on Friday, heeding a call by the National Students’ Union to protest Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The demonstrations demanded an end to what organizers described as “genocide” and urged Spain to cut political and commercial ties with Israel.

In Madrid, an estimated 4,000 students marched through the city, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.” Similar protests were reported in Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and other cities.

The Spanish demonstrations coincided with parallel student-led actions across Europe, following Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of boats attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Protesters called on European governments to take a stronger stance against Israel’s actions and increase support for Palestinians.

Organizers vowed that the student movement would continue mobilizing until “real action is taken to end the violence and occupation.”