Spanish police filmed beating Gaza flotilla activists as Israel jabs back

Key Points:

• Spanish police arrested four Global Sumud Flotilla activists at Bilbao Airport following clashes after the return of the Spanish delegation from Turkey, with footage showing officers using force against the activists.
• The incident followed Spain summoning Israel’s chargé d’affaires over a controversial video by Israel’s National Security Minister mocking detained flotilla activists, leading to mutual accusations between Spain and Israel.
• The four arrested activists face charges including serious disobedience, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer, while the Basque Security Department has launched an investigation into police conduct during the incident.
• Spanish left-wing party EH Bildu and Global Sumud Flotilla condemned the police response as unjustified violence against solidarity activists and demanded the release of detainees and explanations from authorities.
• The airport clashes occurred amid broader unrest in Spain, where large protests in Madrid called for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s resignation over corruption scandals, resulting in injuries and arrests.