Peace activists end hunger strike for Palestine

Three peace activists in Barcelona ended their hunger strike on Friday after more than two weeks. 

Gabriela Serra, Llum Mascaray and Martí Olivella went on hunger strike on February 1 demanding that the Spanish government take a position against the war in Gaza. 

The hunger strike came to an end in the presence of around 200 people from the Jesuit community in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Barcelona, which hosted them during their protest. 

In the past two weeks, they were visited by about 400 people and received the support of around 200 groups and organizations. 

They inspired around 1,000 people to send letters to Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Luis Albares, requesting an end to arms trading with Israel and for Spain to join South Africa's case in the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide. 

The hunger strikers also received support from political parties En Comú Podem, Esquerra Republicana, CUP, Junts, and the Catalan Socialists. 

"We are ending the strike but not the campaign to achieve our aims," Serra stressed. 

They wanted to act as a "spark," and believe that they have managed to light a "small flame," given the support gained during the past two weeks, from people, social entities and political parties. 

Certain parties have committed to urge the Spanish government to take a position on the war, for example via questions in the Spanish Congress. 

After ending their hunger strike, the three peace activists joined others to sing a song of mourning for Gaza in Plaça de Sant Jaume, with handkerchiefs on their arms in memory of the children killed in the war.