Thursday witnessed demonstrations in various European locations by pro-Palestinian groups, causing disruptions by blocking vehicles and targeting businesses in response to Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza. Israeli soldiers boarded nearly 40 vessels and detained over 400 foreign activists, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
The backlash on an international scale escalated rapidly. In Barcelona, several businesses like Starbucks, Burger King, and Carrefour faced vandalization with shattered windows and anti-Israel graffiti. Protesters accused these establishments of being complicit in Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
In Barcelona, opinions among protesters varied on the approach to demonstrations. Akram Azahomaras, a participant, expressed mixed feelings, saying, “These protests are the only thing we can do,” but added, “But doing it like this, I don’t think it’s right,” emphasizing the need for peaceful expressions rather than actions.
Within the movement, there were differing views on protest strategies with some advocating for non-violent protests while others supported visible acts of damage to draw attention from the public and media. This internal divide over protest methods was evident during the rally.
Italy also saw unrest with occupations at major university campuses like Milan’s Statale and Rome’s La Sapienza, as well as blockades at Bologna’s university entrance using car tires. In Turin, hundreds disrupted traffic along the ring road.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the disturbances, questioning the effectiveness of blocking stations, airports, highways, or damaging shops in Italy to aid the Palestinian cause.
Demonstrations spread globally with significant gatherings in Dublin, Paris, Berlin, and Geneva, alongside protests in cities like Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Karachi, all linked to Israel’s flotilla interception. In Istanbul, crowds gathered outside the Israeli embassy with banners condemning Israel’s actions.
The conflict has led to over 66,000 deaths in Gaza, as reported by Palestinian authorities. Israel initiated its campaign in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and 251 hostages taken to Gaza, as per Israeli sources.