Hundreds of people gathered this Thursday in Plaça de Sants, in Barcelona, to denounce the interception of about twenty ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israel in international waters. The protest then advanced towards the Israeli consulate, in the Les Corts neighborhood, although the Mossos d'Esquadra prevented access to the vicinity of the building with several police cordons.
The mobilization went through streets of Sants and Les Corts and caused traffic disruptions at points such as Madrid Avenue and the streets of Sants and Galileu. The march reached Gran Via de Carles III, where it was stopped before the police deployment set up to prevent the demonstrators from approaching the consular headquarters.
Tension before the police cordon in les Corts
It was at that point when the tension increased. Some protesters lit red flares and threw several objects at the police barrier. No arrests or injuries linked to these incidents have emerged, for now.
The concentration had started with slogans in favor of the "immediate release of all detained activists" and with calls to all states and institutions of the European Union to condemn the attack against the ships carrying humanitarian aid for the Palestinian population.
Complaints from the fleet over interception at sea
The spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, Pablo Castillo, described the actions of the Israeli army as an "act of piracy" and denounced the "complicity" of the European Union countries with Israel. He also demanded the release of "all people kidnapped by Israel" and demanded that the EU condemn "an attack that violates international law".
"International rights are being violated" - Òscar Camps, head of Open Arms
The organization maintains that the interception occurred about 1,000 km from Gaza, in international waters. Always according to the flotilla's version, Israeli military boats pointed lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons at the crew, ordered them to get on their knees and keep their hands up, and interfered with the boats' communications. It also claims that they sent a distress message to the Greek coast guard without receiving help.
Òscar Camps added in a message disseminated to the media that there was "a use of force against civilians on the high seas and a blockade of humanitarian aid". In the same vein, the flotilla once again described Israel's operation as piracy.
Concern over the situation of detained activists
Jordi Coronas, councilor of ERC in the Barcelona City Council and member of the Global Sumud Flotilla of 2025, expressed his concern about the state in which the activists detained by Israel may be. Coronas also stated that the moment of the interception of the boats is "very hard and not pleasant at all".
The protest ended without reaching the consular headquarters, under surveillance by the Mossos and after causing traffic disruptions on several main roads in Sants and Les Corts, on a day marked by public denunciation of the action at sea and by the demand for the release of the detained activists.