The streets of major European cities erupted in protest over the weekend as tens of thousands rallied against Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and its ongoing war in Gaza. From Barcelona and Madrid to Rome and Lisbon, demonstrators voiced outrage over what they described as a humanitarian crisis and a violation of international law, prompting a wave of solidarity actions, diplomatic statements, and, in some cases, violent confrontations with police.
According to Press TV and multiple European media outlets, the most significant turnouts were observed in Spain and Italy. In Barcelona, considered the epicenter of pro-Palestinian sentiment since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly two years ago, authorities estimated that around 70,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Madrid saw an even larger crowd, with at least 92,000 protesters, while Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga, Granada, and Valladolid also reported high turnouts. Organizers said that approximately 80 pro-Palestinian demonstrations would take place across Spain over the weekend, a mobilization described by Spanish media as “historical” and the largest since October 2023.
The protests were sparked by Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla—a multinational convoy of at least 44 civilian vessels carrying around 500 activists from 37 countries. The flotilla, which departed from Spain and Italy in late August and stopped in Greece and Tunisia, sought to deliver symbolic humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the near-total blockade imposed by Israel. On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Israeli forces boarded the flotilla in international waters, detaining more than 450 activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and several European lawmakers. The last operational vessel, the Polish-flagged Marinette, was seized approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza on October 2.
Demonstrators in Barcelona and Madrid waved Palestinian flags, chanted slogans, and held banners reading “Jews and Palestinians Against Genocide,” “All Children Want Peace in Palestine,” and “Gaza Is Bleeding Because the Government Is Silent.” Many called for their governments to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and fully implement the recently announced arms embargo. Taxi drivers in Barcelona joined in, honking horns and displaying Palestinian flags from their vehicles. The main demonstration was organized by more than 600 unions, rights groups, and NGOs under the slogan “An end to the arms trade and relations with Israel.”
While the protests began peacefully, tensions escalated as some demonstrators vandalized businesses linked to Israel and Western brands, including Carrefour, Zara, Starbucks, McDonald's, and others. Police reported eight arrests and 20 officers injured in Barcelona during clashes that involved the vandalism of shops. Similar scenes played out in other Spanish cities and across Europe, as solidarity rallies were held in response to the flotilla’s interception and the detention of activists.
In Rome, the protests reached a fever pitch on Sunday, October 5, 2025, marking the fifth consecutive day of demonstrations. Organizers claimed more than one million people attended, while police estimated the crowd at 250,000. Marchers passed iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, waving flags, blocking highways, and singing the anti-fascist anthem “Bella Ciao.” The protests included anti-Israeli chants and, according to Italian authorities, at least one banner praising Hamas’ October 7, 2025, terrorist attack, which killed over 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages.
As the march neared its end, about 200 protesters clashed with police near the St. Mary Major basilica. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannons, detaining 12 suspects and recording the identities of 262 others. The unrest led to the defacement of the statue of Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, drawing condemnation from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” Meloni stated, according to BBC and local media.
The flotilla’s journey was fraught with danger even before its interception. Activists reported repeated attacks, including suspected drone strikes and incendiary devices launched by Israeli forces on September 8 and 9, 2025, damaging Portuguese- and British-flagged vessels. According to CBS News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly approved drone strikes on two of the convoy’s boats near Tunisia. In late September, activists also described being targeted by low-altitude drones south of Greece, with at least 13 explosions and objects dropped on 10 vessels, forcing some to withdraw from the mission.
Many of the detained activists were taken to the Negev Desert prison, widely regarded as one of Israel’s most notorious detention facilities, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission. Some detainees launched hunger strikes in protest. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced that of the 49 Spaniards detained, 21 would return to Spain from Tel Aviv on Sunday, October 5.
The global response was swift and severe. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the interception as “a blatant violation of international law and an act of terrorism,” while Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim accused Israel of “intimidation and coercion” against unarmed civilians. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris called the flotilla “a peaceful mission to shine a light on a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.” In South America, Colombia expelled Israeli diplomats and ended its Free Trade Agreement with Israel. Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil described the blockade as “a tool of deliberate war… seeking to annihilate the population by starvation to complement their indiscriminate bombings.” Turkey’s foreign ministry labeled the interception a “terrorist” act.
Despite the flotilla carrying only a symbolic amount of aid, its organizers said the mission’s primary goal was to establish a maritime corridor to Gaza and draw attention to the severe humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of war. As of early October 2025, the conflict has claimed over 67,000 lives, according to organizers and international observers. The Global Sumud Flotilla follows a lineage of similar missions, most notably the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, which resulted in the deaths of 10 activists and sparked worldwide condemnation.
Even as the convoy was halted short of its destination, its impact reverberated far beyond the Mediterranean. The protests, strikes, and diplomatic actions that followed underscored the flotilla’s success in mobilizing global civil society and challenging entrenched power structures. “Only organised urban and civil society can save lives and pressure governments to take immediate action,” said Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona footballer and current Manchester City manager, in a video supporting the protests. Catalan politician Elisenda Alamany added, “We will explain to our children that we took to the streets of Barcelona and mobilised, and that the vast majority of the people of Catalonia stood on the right side of history.”
While the ships may not have reached Gaza, the events of early October 2025 have transformed a symbolic humanitarian operation into a rallying point for justice, legality, and human rights, with repercussions still unfolding across continents.
