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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Spain summons Israeli envoy as Gaza flotilla seizure sparks Barcelona protests

From Jerusalem Post · (4m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Spain summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla, detaining 175 activists, including 31 Spanish citizens.
  • Protests erupted in Barcelona outside Israel's consulate, with demonstrators chanting slogans against Israel and clashing with police.
  • Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is coordinating with other nations whose citizens were aboard the flotilla and has previously condemned Israel's actions.

The Jerusalem Post reports on the diplomatic fallout and protests following Israel's interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. Spain's Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires, Dana Erlich, in response to the seizure and detention of activists. The flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona in mid-April, saw 175 individuals detained by the IDF, with 31 of them being Spanish citizens.

Boycott Israel

— ProtestersSlogan shouted during the protest outside Israel's Consulate in Barcelona.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is actively engaged, maintaining contact with the flotilla's organizers and the foreign ministers of countries with citizens on board. He had previously joined a joint statement with several other nations condemning Israel's actions. The incident has fueled public anger in Spain, with protests breaking out in Barcelona. Demonstrators marched towards Israel's Consulate, shouting anti-Israel slogans and clashing with Catalan police.

Israel is not a country, it is an occupation

— ProtestersSlogan shouted during the protest outside Israel's Consulate in Barcelona.

Protesters expressed strong condemnation, with slogans like "Boycott Israel" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" echoing. Some masked individuals engaged in vandalism and threw projectiles at the police. The situation highlights the deep divisions and strong sentiments surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly within European contexts. The article also notes a call from a flotilla spokesperson for the EU to condemn Israel and implement an arms embargo, accusing the EU of complicity.

Flotilla, you are not alone

— ProtestersSlogan shouted during the protest outside Israel's Consulate in Barcelona.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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