University students in Spain block roads in support of Palestine

Around 100 university students moved their tents to the road passing through the campus in central Madrid, blocking it and halting traffic for two hours. The police intervened after issuing warnings, removing the peaceful demonstrators, who did not resist, one by one from the road. The students, who were singing 'Long Live Palestine' and forming a human chain by holding hands, received applause from their peers gathered around to show support. The protest ended peacefully, although the police took extraordinary precautions. 'ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING MUST END' Spanish students criticized the police violence against university students supporting Palestine in countries like Germany, France, and the U.S., saying, 'These countries, with the police interventions, have shown that their democracies are only nominal and that they cannot tolerate students who express their views freely and defend a just cause.' The students said that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez supports them and that the Spanish government stands behind the Palestinian cause, but they expect more steps to be taken to stop Israel. CAMPUS PROTESTS STARTING IN THE U.S. The protests at Columbia University sparked debates about 'freedom of expression' restrictions against Palestinian students at U.S. universities after October 7, 2023, leading to demonstrations spreading to other universities across the country, with around 3,000 people being detained. The U.S. protests quickly spread to universities in Europe and around the world, becoming a global movement. Despite the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision to stop the attacks, the Israeli army continues its ground attacks in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. Since October 7, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 36,586 Palestinians, including 15,328 children and 10,171 women, and injured 83,074 people. While thousands of dead are still reported to be under the rubble, hospitals and educational institutions where people sought refuge have been targeted, destroying civilian infrastructure.