On Wednesday evening, a large-scale protest in support of Gaza residents took place in Barcelona. Thousands took to the streets to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Estimates suggest that between 15,000 and 50,000 people participated in the march. However, the peaceful atmosphere did not last throughout—the event ended with serious incidents.
During the march, some groups began acting aggressively: there were reports of trash containers being set on fire and store windows being damaged. Police were forced to intervene to prevent further disorder. As a result of the operation, 15 people were detained, 11 of whom were minors.
The situation became especially tense near the Israeli consulate building, where protesters tried to break through the barriers and threw stones at police officers. Law enforcement responded with pepper spray and special equipment to disperse the crowd and restore order. In addition to stones, firecrackers and lit flares were hurled at the building and police.
Firefighters were also involved in dealing with the aftermath—they had to extinguish burning containers on one of the city’s main streets. Additionally, during the march, a fast food restaurant suffered damage to its facade. Despite the large-scale unrest, most participants did not engage in aggressive actions and dispersed calmly after the event ended.
The march organizers emphasized that their aim was to peacefully protest the situation in Gaza. However, actions by certain radical groups led to an escalation and the need for police intervention. City authorities have already announced their intention to thoroughly investigate the incident and hold those responsible for acts of vandalism accountable.
