Activists globally on Thursday criticized Israel's seizure of a convoy delivering supplies to the encircled Palestinians in Gaza, calling for increased penalties as a reaction.
Protesters marched through the streets across Europe, Australia, and South America to express their disapproval of the Global Sumud Flotilla's treatment. The flotilla departed from Barcelona last month in an effort to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has indicated that famine is prevalent following almost two years of conflict.
Forty-one vessels carrying over 400 individuals, including politicians and climate activist Greta Thunberg, were blocked by the Israeli navy on Wednesday from entering the coastal area, according to an Israeli official.
Approximately 15,000 individuals paraded through Barcelona, expressing dissent against Israel's activities, as reported by the local police department in Spain's second-largest city, with participants shouting slogans such as "Gaza, you are not alone," "Boycott Israel," and "Freedom for Palestine."
Police used batons to push back a group of demonstrators trying to scale barriers, causing them to withdraw, according to footage aired on Spanish state television.
A vessel with former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau was among the ones stopped from continuing. Colau and her fellow activists, including Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, are at risk of being deported by Israel.
Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered outside the Irish parliament in Dublin, where backing for the Palestinian movement has frequently been likened to Ireland's long-standing fight against British colonialism.
Miriam McNally, who claimed her daughter had joined the flotilla, was present at the Dublin protest.
"I'm extremely worried about my daughter, but I'm also very proud of her and the things she's accomplishing," McNally said to AFP.
She is defending humanity despite facing serious threats.
Approximately a thousand individuals gathered in Paris's Place de la République, as reported by an AFP journalist, whereas in the southern French port city of Marseille, about a hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators were detained in the afternoon following their attempt to obstruct entry to the offices of arms manufacturer Eurolinks, which is accused of supplying military parts to Israel.
Demonstrations also took place in Berlin, The Hague, Tunis, Brasilia, and Buenos Aires, as reported by AFP journalists.
– ‘Intolerable’ –
In Italy, where the nation's primary unions have organized a nationwide strike on Friday in support of the flotilla, thousands marched through the streets demanding Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to stand up for the activists.
In addition to Rome, where authorities reported 10,000 participants in a demonstration, similar gatherings occurred in cities such as Milan, Turin, Florence, and Bologna.
One day following a comparable protest on Wednesday night, demonstrators in the capital assembled at the Colosseum and paraded, criticizing the far-right prime minister's backing of Israel.
"We are ready to obstruct everything. The genocidal apparatus needs to halt right away," protesters shouted.
In Turkey, where the government is one of the strongest opponents of Israel's military actions, a lengthy procession of protesters walked towards the Israeli embassy in Istanbul, carrying signs that read "Full embargo on the occupation."
"We call for the release of all individuals from the Sumud fleet and all detainees, and as university students, we insist that all academic and financial connections with the genocidal Israeli regime be ended at our institutions," said 21-year-old student Elif Bozkurt to AFPTV.
Approximately 3,000 protesters also gathered in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels, where one sign called on the EU to "end the blockade" as smoke bombs and firecrackers were detonated among the crowd.
"The message is that every boat needs to be safeguarded," said a protester named Isis during the rally, appealing to the European Union's leadership to stop the "massive amounts of money being sent to Israel" via the union's agreements with the Middle Eastern nation.
– ‘Apartheid state’ –
A comparable group assembled in Geneva, as reported by an AFP reporter on the ground and Swiss media outlets, with predominantly young demonstrators igniting a fire close to the main train station.
The demonstrators then moved to the Mont Blanc bridge in the Swiss city, located at the end of Lake Geneva, where they were confronted by a line of police wearing riot gear, who pushed them back following short conflicts.
In the Greek capital, Athens, a large group of demonstrators launched fireworks and flares.
"The assault on the Sumud flotilla was a savage escalation by the Israeli apartheid regime. They refuse to allow even a route for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza," Petros Konstantinou, head of Greece's World Against Racism and Fascism (KEERFA) group, stated to AFPTV.
Hundreds also gathered in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, outside the U.S. embassy, which is a major ally of Israel.
"We are extremely upset... upset, angry, and disgusted because their actions are for the sake of humanity," said Ili Farhan, 43.
They are only bringing in assistance and baby food... This detention is unfair.
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