On the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, cities across Europe were once again the stage for fervent pro-Palestinian demonstrations, reflecting a resurgence of activism and heated debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From the bustling streets of Barcelona to the industrial outskirts of Edinburgh, these rallies and protests have brought together a diverse mix of activists, organizations, and ordinary citizens—each with their own motivations, grievances, and visions for the future of Palestine.
In Barcelona, the demonstration took on special significance, as chronicled by the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a group designated as a terrorist entity by the U.S., Canada, and several other countries due to its ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). According to an "Action Report" published by Samidoun on October 9, 2025, "the people of Barcelona once again rose up" to mark both the October 7 anniversary and what they described as "77 years of Palestinian resistance." The march, which wound through the neighborhoods of Raval, Sant Antoni, and central Barcelona, was described as "massive and full of energy," with chants supporting Palestinian resistance and posters honoring figures such as Wafa Jarrar and Khader Adnan.
Samidoun’s report emphasized the protesters’ calls for the liberation of prominent Palestinian prisoners, including Ahmad Sa'adat, as well as Anan Yaeesh (currently imprisoned in Italy) and four Palestinians held in Belgian immigration detention centers: Anas Seyam, Fathi Alhamas, Hamouda Albayyouk, and Hussameddin Alras. Protesters also decried what they called "European complicity with the Zionist regime," pointing to speculative investment funds, multinational corporations, and arms manufacturers allegedly linked to Israel operating in Barcelona.
But the day was not without tension. Samidoun described the police deployment by the Mossos d'Esquadra as "excessive and suffocating," and reported that clashes erupted at the end of the march after what they called "assaults by the Mossos on the demonstration." The confrontation resulted in six arrests and several more individuals being detained for identity checks. The group condemned the state for what they saw as "repressing those who support [the Palestinian cause] and defend its resistance," insisting, "All our solidarity goes to those affected by this repression, and we remain steadfast in the struggle to confront it together."
Samidoun’s leadership and international network have drawn scrutiny far beyond Spain. The organization’s international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, is the wife of PFLP official Khaled Barakat, who founded Samidoun. Kates was arrested in May 2024 after a rally in Vancouver, where she called for the removal of Hamas, the PFLP, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hizbullah from Canada's terror list. She later traveled to Iran to receive the Islamic Republic's "Eighth Annual Islamic Human Rights And Human Dignity Award" and gave a detailed interview to Iran's Ofogh TV about her arrest. Kates also attended the funeral of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon in February 2025 and, according to reports, remains there.
Samidoun’s "Action Report" series often highlights events involving released Palestinian prisoners. One recent event in Madrid, held on October 14, 2025, celebrated Amar (Omar) Al-Zaben, a senior Hamas military figure who was serving 27 life terms plus 25 years for deadly attacks in Israel. Al-Zaben was released in a February 2025 prisoner exchange for Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The Madrid event was facilitated by Barakat, who also leads the Madrid-based Masar Badil Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, pro-Palestinian activism took a different form. On October 16, 2025, three groups—Scotland Stop Arming Israel, Workers for a Free Palestine, and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign—blocked the entrance to the Leonardo defence factory on Crewe Toll Road North in Edinburgh. The sit-in began in the early hours of the morning, with protesters wearing face coverings and holding Palestinian flags and signs, including one declaring "End Israeli Apartheid." According to a post by Scotland Stop Arming Israel on Instagram, the protest targeted the factory because it "produces components for the F-35s which are used by Israel to kill people in the Gaza Strip and beyond."
The groups called on the UK Government to "carry out a complete ban on the sale of weapons and their components to Israel," citing what they see as the government’s failure to impose an arms embargo. "In the face of the government's failure to impose an arms embargo on Israel, we have taken matters in our own hands and are currently blockading the Leonardo factory," the post read. "Join us now in directly stopping the flow of arms to Israel. The success of this action depends on your presence/support. The more people join us, the safer we all are! Come and join us or be our witness."
Despite a recent ceasefire, protesters argued that "the Israeli regime retains control of nearly 60 per cent of the Gaza Strip," and that "the killing and maiming never stopped, but only slowed down, and Palestine continues to be occupied." The demonstration also called for solidarity with Palestinians in exile and in prison, echoing the sentiments expressed at the Barcelona march.
Police Scotland responded to the protest at around 5:10am, with officers attending the scene. A spokesperson confirmed, “Around 5.10am on Thursday, 16 October we were called to a report of a protest outside a business premises in the Crewe Road North area of Edinburgh. Officers are in attendance.” The protest was ongoing as of the afternoon, with organizers urging supporters to "arrive with a buddy or in a group to maximise safety" and to "wear a mask and comfortable, warm clothing."
These events highlight the persistence and evolution of pro-Palestinian activism in Europe, where debates over arms sales, state repression, and the boundaries of solidarity continue to play out both on the streets and in the halls of government. The demonstrations in Barcelona and Edinburgh also underscore the deep divisions within European societies over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with activists accusing governments of complicity while authorities insist on maintaining public order and upholding legal obligations.
For many participants, these protests are about more than just policy—they are acts of conscience, rooted in a belief that ordinary people can and must take a stand when governments fall short. As one activist in Edinburgh put it, "The genocide is not over until all of Palestine is free from occupation with Al Quds (Jerusalem) as her capital, and until all Palestinians in exile and in prison can return to their homes." Whether these actions will lead to meaningful policy changes or simply provoke further crackdowns remains to be seen, but for now, the voices on Europe’s streets are as loud—and as divided—as ever.