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Demonstrators hold a sign reading ’Stop genocide in Palestine’ during a rally in support of Palestinians in Barcelona on October 21, 2023. (AFP photo)

Thousands of students took to the streets of Barcelona on Thursday to show their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and against the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Footage shows many demonstrators holding placards and posters bearing a variety of messages reading ’Stop calling it a conflict. It’s literally genocide!!!’ and ’You don’t need to be Muslim to stand up for Gaza, you just need to be human.’

Using megaphones, they chanted ’Free, free Palestine!’ while marching through the city as part of a nationwide strike in solidarity with Palestine, all under the banner of ’Stop the genocide in Gaza!’

"Nobody is giving a voice to the Palestinians; everyone is in favour of Israel and this has to stop. They are committing genocide, they are murdering every day," said Lama, a Catalan student.

"We want to give a voice to what is happening. Israel has been bombing Palestine for a long time and the world does not hear much of it," said another protester.

To participants, Israel is seen as a ’murderer’ supported by Europeans and the US.

"Israel is not a state, we do not recognize it. We are Muslims and we support our Muslim brothers who are having a hard time and no one says anything, no one does anything, the politicians are silent," said Amal sided by her colleagues.

During the peak of the protest, they formed a large circle in a square, and after passionate speeches, they began chanting: "Boycott Israel! Boycott Israel!" At the same time, women holding dolls, symbolizing the infants harmed in Gaza bombings, staged a performance and called for an immediate ceasefire.

(Source: Ruptly)