Hawzah News Agency- The protest, led by various pro-Palestinian civil society organizations and Spain’s left-wing Podemos party, occurred ahead of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague match between Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Participants waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as “Boycott Israel,” “Murderer Israel,” “Free Palestine,” and “Long live Palestine’s freedom struggle.”

Podemos Secretary General Ione Belarra joined the demonstration, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians. She also criticized Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares for advocating the separation of sports and politics, describing it as a double standard.

Belarra pointed out that Albares had supported efforts in the EU to ban Russia from sports over its actions in Ukraine but refrains from doing the same for Israel. She labeled this as hypocrisy and complicity in Israel’s crimes and called for Spain to cut all ties with Tel Aviv.

Spanish authorities maintained strict security at the venue so that the protest received widespread media coverage.

Meanwhile, activists in Spain’s Basque region urged the cancellation of another Euro League game scheduled for February 7 between Baskonia and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Basque group Palestinarekin Elkartasuna accused Israel of using its basketball team to “normalize its genocide against Palestinians.”

In a statement, the group argued that such events serve as propaganda to enhance Israel’s image and disconnect it from its colonial actions, asserting that no activity that legitimizes genocide should be allowed.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its atrocities in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 46,600 deaths, primarily women and children, since October 7.