Two thousand protesters marched through Bilbao on Sunday to condemn Basque police for their handling of activists returning from detention in Israel. A relative of one of the six activists tried to approach them at Bilbao airport on Saturday, leading to a confrontation where police used batons and pinned individuals to the ground.
The Basque regional police force launched an investigation into whether officers followed procedures, according to a statement. The march included banners criticizing the police force for alleged complicity with Zionism. Activists were released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla aimed at delivering aid to Gaza; they accused authorities of abuse and sexual assault.
Israel’s prison service denied these allegations, and Reuters could not independently verify them. Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, called for those responsible at Bilbao airport to be held accountable, while Amnesty International demanded a thorough investigation. The Israeli Embassy in Spain sought an explanation from the Spanish government regarding the events.