This Saturday, July 12, Spain becomes the scene of a nationwide wave of protests. Under the slogan “For a just peace, a definitive ceasefire. Neither terrorism nor genocide,” the “Stop the War” platform calls for more than 200 rallies across the country. The movement, supported by an impressive list of prominent figures from art, culture, and journalism, demands an immediate end to the violence in Gaza.
Prominent Voices Rise for Gaza
The support for the protests is immense and deeply rooted in the Spanish cultural landscape. Numerous well-known faces have expressed their solidarity. These include award-winning film directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Arantxa Echevarría, and Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Giants from the music scene such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Miguel Ríos, Miguel Poveda, and Silvia Pérez Cruz are also participating. The acting guild is prominently represented with names like José Sacristán, Malena Alterio, and Arturo Valls.
Even renowned writers like Elvira Lindo and Rosa Montero, as well as influential journalists like Almudena Ariza, Julia Otero, and Jordi Évole, have joined the initiative. Artists such as Rayden and popular comedian Andreu Buenafuente underscore the broad societal support for this collective action.
The Manifesto: A Call Against Genocide and for Humanitarian Aid
The manifesto signed by national and international figures from PararLaGuerra.es begins with drastic words: “What is happening in Gaza is an act of genocide, the ultimate goal of which is the extermination and ethnic cleansing of more than two million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, half of whom are minors.”
The statement denounces the “cruelest and deadliest moments of the massacre” that the Israeli government has been committing in the Gaza Strip for twenty months. War crimes are allegedly committed daily, including the bombing of hospitals and schools, the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and the blockade of humanitarian aid deliveries. The authors of the manifesto urgently warn of an impending famine, which particularly threatens children. According to UN warnings, thousands of them could die daily if humanitarian aid is not provided immediately.
The manifesto also emphasizes the global dimension of the conflict: “Peace in the region and throughout the world is in danger.” The recent bombings of Iran by the USA and Israel have meant a dangerous escalation, with the potential for an international conflict with unforeseeable consequences. Trump and Netanyahu are explicitly named as a threat to world peace. PararLaGuerra.es calls on all citizens, “without distinction of ideologies or beliefs, regardless of the region or country in which they live, to support the mobilization and participate in the rallies for peace and for an end to the genocide on July 12.”
Time and Place of the Demonstrations in Spain
The central demonstration in Madrid will take place today, Saturday, July 12, at 11:00 AM in Plaza de Callao. In most Spanish cities, the rallies will also begin at this time. A complete list of the exact locations in each city is available on the PararLaGuerra.es website.
