Global Cities Protest Against Detention of Flotilla in International Waters

Hundreds of thousands of people in cities across five continents are protesting the detention of activists by the Israeli Army, which, as expected, maintained its military blockade and prevented the boats from reaching the Gazan coast.

The seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla, boarded by the Israel Defense Forces over 100 kilometers from its territorial waters and the coast of the Gaza Strip, has sparked a wave of global protests. This outcome was foreseeable—a recurring script after two previous attempts and a warning from the government of Benjamin Netanyahu that it would once again detain the humanitarian activists.

In Spain, student strikes and subsequent nightly rallies took place in dozens of Spanish cities: from major urban centers like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, or Seville, to regions and municipalities with much smaller populations such as Logroño, Salamanca, Burgos, or Soria.

Currently, there are 65 Spaniards illegally detained who were sailing on the flotilla's 43 boats; seven of these boats fly the Spanish flag. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires in Spain following the detention of the 530 activists, citing, as he stated on RTVE, a violation of international law by Israel.

In Paris and other French cities, unions had planned their third day of protests against the budget cuts by the government of Emmanuel Macron. However, the demonstration merged with the day's international events: several attendees marched with t-shirts bearing the slogan "Free Palestine" and banners demanding an "end to the genocide."

In Italy, unions, which hold significant strength in this Mediterranean country, have called for a new national strike this Friday over the ongoing genocide and the detention of the flotilla, following spontaneous protests that erupted yesterday in dozens of Italian cities.

In Milan, 20,000 people marched through the city center chanting anti-Zionist slogans, while the area around Rome's Colosseum was filled with Palestinian flags. Currently, there are over 40 Italians being held by the Israeli government. The strike is expected to see significant participation, causing disruptions in key services like public transport, though minimum services will be maintained.

In Eastern Europe, demonstrations also took place to condemn the events. In Warsaw, attendees surrounded and splashed red paint on the building of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even broke one of its entrance doors. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk went so far as to state that Netanyahu would not be arrested on Polish territory, despite the existing arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Protests in Athens also devolved into riots. Several masked protesters launched fireworks at police lines throughout the night in the Greek capital.

Latin America Joins Global Demonstrations

The protests have by no means been limited to Europe. In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded the immediate release of the activists and the opening of Gaza's borders to humanitarian aid. This came just a week after she first described the events perpetrated in the Gaza Strip as a genocide.

"They have committed no crime, so they must immediately hand over our citizens to the Mexican authorities. Furthermore, we demand that Israel cease its oppression in Gaza," declared Sheinbaum, recalling that Palestine was one of the first countries to open an embassy in Mexico City. Outside the Secretariat of Foreign Relations in the capital, attendees called for the release of the Mexican activists and journalists traveling with the humanitarian group.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, several civil society organizations and students played drums and sang to demand the release of 11 of their compatriots detained by Israel. Other major demonstrations took place in cities like Buenos Aires and Bogotá. The Venezuelan government also joined the day of protests, with Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's Minister of Interior and Justice, seen participating in a demonstration in Caracas.