Spain: Israel Must Be Banned from All Sports and Cultural Events
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Sputnik via Mehr News agency, Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister, expressed her full support for spanish citizens’ protests in solidarity with Palestine, which led to the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta cycling race in Madrid.
She added that Spanish society rejects the normalization of genocide in Gaza through sporting and cultural events and insisted that Israel should not be allowed to participate in any event.
The vuelta cycling race was halted this Sunday afternoon local time when riders entered Madrid amid clashes between police and pro-palestinian protesters.
Following these clashes, the final stage of Spain’s Vuelta was canceled.
Protesters were angered by the presence of an Israeli team competing amid ongoing crimes committed by occupiers against Palestinians, calling for the event’s cancellation.
Footage broadcast on local RTVE showed protesters removing metal barriers and occupying multiple points along the race route. They then chanted slogans condemning Israeli occupation crimes.
Anticipating large protests, over 1,000 police officers were deployed as cyclists reached the final day of this 21-day race in Madrid.
An estimated 100,000 Spanish citizens participated in these demonstrations. Despite efforts by Spanish police to disperse them using force, they were unable to control supporters demanding justice for oppressed Palestinians.
