Police increase security for Catalonia's Jews, pro-Palestine rally held in Barcelona 

Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police have increased security patrols for Catalonia's Jews after the war in Israel started on Saturday morning. Expanded police security units will be deployed to buildings such as the Israeli consulate and synagogues.  

Meanwhile, around 400 pro-Palestinian supporters demonstrated in Barcelona on Sunday in Plaça Sant Jaume square, in front of the Catalan government headquarters and city hall to show solidarity with Palestine as the Gaza-Israel conflict continues. 

The demonstration was organized by the Catalan Palestine Community and the Stop Compliance with Israel group, who consider Israel's actions to be "apartheid" and ethnic genocide in the region. 

"Israel has maintained an illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip since 2005 that has led to a chronic humanitarian crisis," organizers said. 

Flights delayed and cancelled 

Barcelona airline Vueling has had to cancel flights going from Tel Aviv to the Catalan capital's airport, due to the war. However, other airlines such as El Al Airlines, Israel's national company, continues to operate between the two Mediterranean cities. 

Some flights have been delayed but were able to depart the Israeli city and reach Barcelona around 60 minutes later than expected. 

Repatriations are already ongoing, and Spain's acting foreign minister José Manuel Albares hopes passengers of cancelled flights will be able to travel home soon. 

Two Spaniards suffer Hamas attack 

Two Spaniards have suffered in Hamas' attack, Albares told Spanish public broadcaster TVE. He did not explain their current situation as they are "trying to clarify" what has happened. 

Spanish officials are aware of their identities and are in touch with Israeli authorities and the families of both victims. 

Government condemns attack 

The Catalan government "condemns the attack against civilians in Israel," and "profoundly regrets the victims," foreign minister Meritxell Serret wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, on Saturday afternoon. 

Authorities also called for a halt to "the increase in violence causing devastation among Palestinians and Israelis," and showed their support for both groups while looking to increase "efforts to guarantee peace and coexistence with full respect for human rights." 

 

Catalan pro-independence Junts also "condemned Hamas' terrorist attack against Israel, as all violence against civilians is absolutely intolerable," the party posted on X. 

"Recognizing the right of Israel to exist and the urgency for dialogue to reach two states is the only viable solution to the conflict," Junts added. 

"Violence is never the solution as it carries more violence," Junts president Laura Borràs wrote. 

Esquerra, the solo-governing party in Catalonia, tweeted a similar message on the "indiscriminate attacks by Hamas against Israel," and asked for "a rapid cessation of hostilities and respect for international humanitarian law." 

The Socialists expressed "solidarity with the victims and their families," and "reaffirmed" that the way to solve the issue is "to work for a fair and lasting peace in the region." A similar message to the one written by Catalan Socialist and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, who wrote "news of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling." 

"This is against international law," he added, and called for hostages to be "released immediately." 

Meanwhile, far-left CUP said that Israel has been "perpetuating a genocide of a territory [Palestine] for decades. The territory resists and fights against misery and injustice," they posted on X. 

"Long live Palestine! To the victory!" the group wrote. 

Barcelona – Tel Aviv 

Early in September, Barcelona mayor Socialist Jaume Collboni restored the twin city ties with Tel Aviv, after former mayor Ada Colau decided to temporary suspend all relations with Israel. 

Collboni signed a mayoral decree to "correct" the positioning of Barcelona as a city that is a "bridge and in dialogue" with all cities of the Mediterranean and the world, authorities said in September. 

The one-paragraph decree stated that the mayor of Barcelona lifts the "suspension of the friendship and collaboration agreement" with the cities of Tel Aviv and Gaza signed in September 1998 and "consequently, restores institutional relations."  

Collboni served as Colau's deputy in the previous term, before being elected mayor himself in June 2023 after a last-minute plot twist in a divided chamber following municipal elections where Xavier Trias, backed by pro-independence Junts, topped the poll.