Student shutdown across Spain as protesters demand end to 'Gaza genocide'

Empty classrooms and angry streets.

That was the scene in more than 40 cities across Spain from midday on Thursday as thousands of university and secondary level Spanish young people walked out of classes as part of a student strike for Palestine.

Following a call by a host of student syndicates and national unions to raise their voices, protests happened from Galicia to Granada.

Under the slogan 'Education against barbarity, liberty to teach, liberty to learn,' organizers say the protest encourages students to use their voice to cry out for "an end to the genocide" in Gaza.

"Today our classes are empty and the streets of more than 40 cities in Spain are full of students proving our dignity and proving also that we are in the correct side of history together with the Palestinian people and together with everybody in the world who is mobilizing for this genocide to stop," Coral Latorre, General Secretary of the Student Syndicate, told CGTN in Madrid.

In Madrid it was also a stand against attempts by the regional government and its right-leaning President Isabel Ayuso to ban Palestinian symbols and shows of support for Palestine in its schools.

On Thursday anger levels rose even further following news that the Gaza-bound flotilla that left from Barcelona on September 1 carrying humanitarian aid had been intercepted by Israeli forces with Spanish activists on board.

Spain Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed that there were 65 Spanish citizens on the flotilla, including Lucia Munoz Dalda who posted a video saying: "If you are watching this video it is because I have been kidnapped by the Israeli occupying forces and taken to Israel against my will which constitutes a crime under international law."

'Angry, frustrated'

CGTN asked for reactions to the news at the protest in Madrid.

"Angry, frustrated, everything, bad, I hope they're okay and nothing bad happens to them and they get home safe," student Patricia Zambrano told CGTN.

Coral Latorre added: "Today for us it's super important to show our solidarity with the flotilla and with all the members of the flotilla that have been victims of this Zionist aggression. 

"All our anger is being expressed in the streets and what we have to say is that we ask and we demand the immediate freedom of all the frotilla members who have been attacked and imprisoned by the Netanyahu regime."

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday morning that he is keeping close watch on what's happening with the flotilla. Sanchez said that those aboard the boats represent no danger to the Israeli government and insisted that it was necessary to protect the rights of those detained, guarantee diplomatic protections, and ensure their safe return home.

While the Spanish government has been critical of Israel's actions in Gaza and Sanchez has openly used the word "genocide", Spanish protesters here say the government needs to do more, including an end to arms sales to Israel, an economic boycott and a complete diplomatic break with the Israeli administration led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the streets students continue to call for an end to the horror unfolding in Gaza, trying to apply pressure with school strikes and calling for a general strike.