Spanish police filmed beating Gaza flotilla activists as Israel jabs back at Madrid
Four people were detained and an internal affairs probe was opened after video showed police using batons and dragging activists at the airport.
- On Saturday, Spanish police arrested four Global Sumud Flotilla activists at Bilbao Airport after clashes erupted during their return from Turkey, with footage showing officers striking activists with batons inside the terminal.
- Tensions escalated Wednesday after Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares condemned Israel's treatment of Gaza-bound activists as "monstrous, inhumane, and disgraceful," following an earlier controversial video from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
- The Israel Foreign Ministry seized on the airport footage to demand "an explanation from the Spanish government regarding its treatment of the flotilla anarchists," accusing them of bringing "provocation and chaos everywhere."
- Bildu condemned the "harsh" police response, calling violence against activists engaged in "solidarity" and "defense of human rights" unjustified, and requested Basque Security Minister Bingen Zupiria explain the actions before parliament.
- While the United States previously labeled the group a "pro-Hamas flotilla" and issued sanctions, separate unrest erupted in Madrid on Saturday where thousands demanded Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's resignation, with clashes near the Moncloa Palace injuring seven officers.
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73 Articles
Outrage in Spain after police beat Gaza flotilla activists
MADRID: Around two thousand protesters took to the streets of the Spanish city of Bilbao on Sunday to condemn the Basque police’s treatment of activists from a Gaza aid flotilla on their return from detention in Israel. When a relative of one of the six returning activists tried to approach them at Bilbao airport on Saturday, a police officer forcefully prevented him from doing so, leading to scuffles between both sides, images from state broadc…
El Periódico
elcorreoweb.esIsrael convenes Spanish business manager after police violence against activists at Bilbao airport
First great indignation about Israel. Then baton scenes. At the airport of Bilbao returned activists of the "Gaza aid fleet" were beaten.
Israel rebukes Spain over police treatment of deported Gaza flotilla activists
Israel's Foreign Ministry also criticized Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and his ministers for not condemning the conduct of Spanish police nearly 24 hours after officers were allegedly seen using force against flotilla participants, while 'rushing to condemn Israel at every opportunity'
The arrival of activists who integrated the flotilla to Bilbao was marked by an incident with the Basque police. Israel calls in charge of business to "clarify" the situation.
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