On 16 November, Spanish students from colleges and universities across the country held a second day of demonstrations and marches for Gaza. Activities were organised in no fewer than 38 cities. Their frustration has been increased by the relative inactivity of the Spanish government which voted for a ceasefire in the UN General Assembly but otherwise, despite its left-wing posture, has done little to hasten an end to Israeli assaults on the Palestinians in Gaza or the OPT. The original report, reprinted below, may be found here.

Students in Spain go on strike rally for second time in solidarity with Palestine

November 16, 2023 at 7:20 pm

Students, holdings placards and flags, gather to stage protest in support of Palestinians in Madrid, Spain on November 16, 2023. [Şenhan Bolelli - Anadolu Agency]

Students, holdings placards and flags, gather to stage protest in support of Palestinians in Madrid, Spain on November 16, 2023. [Şenhan Bolelli – Anadolu Agency]

Students across Spain, on Thursday, held a second strike rally to show solidarity with Palestine, Anadolu Agency reports.

University and high school students gathered in 38 cities including Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Zaragoza and Madrid.

Protesters in Madrid chanted slogans, including: “Stop the genocide”, “Murderer Israel” and “Long live the struggle of the free Palestinian people”.

Aida Gonzalez, a protesting student, criticised politicians for not taking action. “We are here as students to demand action rather than words”,  she told Anadolu.

Victoria Belen, another student joining the protest, accused Spain and other EU governments of being complicit in the “genocide” of Palestinians.

She said the “most progressive” government is now in power in the country but even it said it cannot do anything.

“As students, we say enough is enough, stop this genocide”, added Belen.

The Israeli Embassy in Madrid issued a statement condemning the protests, saying they “increase anti-Semitism.”

Earlier, on 27 October, students went on a strike rally to protest the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas, on 7 October.

At least 11,500 Palestinians have since been killed, including more than 7,800 women and children, and over 29,200 others injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.