A major protest disrupted Barcelona’s morning traffic on Thursday as demonstrators blocked Diagonal Avenue in both directions during rush hour to denounce what they called genocide in Gaza.
The demonstration began around 8am at Plaça Maria Cristina, where a group of students held banners reading ‘Stop the genocide. Solidarity with Palestine’. The action halted vehicles along one of the city’s busiest arteries, forcing diversions and causing delays to several bus lines.
Barcelona City Council confirmed that the Guardia Urbana police had to redirect traffic until the protest ended shortly before 9am. Although circulation was restored, congestion lingered across adjoining streets for some time afterwards.
⚠️ Tallem la diagonal a Les Corts! ⚠️
Cap normalitat fins que s'acabi el genocidi i Palestina sigui lliure! Amunt les que lluiten. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/FfxCzuhKC9— Arran Les Corts (@arran_lc) September 18, 2025
The action was part of a broader day of mobilisation promoted by student unions under the slogan ‘Stop the genocide’. Organisers had encouraged strikes and walkouts in workplaces and schools throughout the morning, with larger rallies scheduled for the evening. In Barcelona, the main demonstration is set to take place at 7pm in Plaça Catalunya, coinciding with protests in other cities across Catalonia.
The protest reflects the ongoing wave of solidarity actions in Spain, amid heightened international scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and calls from activists for governments to sever economic and political ties with Israel.
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