Spain's NGOs, unions observe nationwide strike in solidarity with Palestine

More than 200 trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Spain have initiated a 24-hour general strike titled "Against the genocide and occupation in Palestine."

As part of the nationwide strike on Friday, demonstrations took place in the capital Madrid and other major cities such as Barcelona and Bilbao, with university students suspending classes in solidarity.

The unions and NGOs expressed that Israel's attacks on Gaza have become "intolerable," urging the Spanish government to "immediately cut diplomatic, commercial, and military relations with Israel" to prevent its participation in "Israel's ethnic cleansing."

The unions organised various demonstrations throughout the day, including protests at factories that produce military equipment and in front of the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Madrid.

Carmen Arnaiz, secretary of Social Activities at the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), which led the strike, stated, "We organised this action with the support of many NGOs to respond to the demands of Palestinian workers," she said. She emphasised that "the biggest action we can take as trade unions is a general strike," calling the strike symbolic yet significant.

"The message we want to send to the Spanish government and the world is to cut all relations with Israel," Arnaiz said, condemning Israel for its “total violation of international law and human rights” and labelling its actions as genocide.

Arnaiz further advocated for controlling arms exports to Israel and investing in health, education, and social services instead of weapons. She stressed the need for global demonstrations in support of Palestine.

"It is necessary to prevent the killing of civilians, including thousands of women and children, from entering a vicious circle as if it were normal.”

'Fascism'

The secretary criticised bans on demonstrations supporting Palestine in several European countries, including Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and the US, describing them as "fascism." She called such bans "scandalous," citing a recent incident in Germany where a child was confronted for carrying a Palestinian flag.

"It is incomprehensible that Germany would track down a 10-year-old boy just because he was carrying the Palestinian flag and violently take it away."

"Banning the right to protest and freedom of expression is a huge dilemma, especially for Europe, which claims to be a world leader in this regard," she stated.

"I expect the civil society in Europe, which I think does not agree with such bans and violence, to react," the official underlined.

"It is a terrible thing to ban a demonstration against genocide," she added.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since last October.

More than 41,500 people, most of them women and children, have since been killed and more than 96,000 injured, according to local health authorities.