A Novosti correspondent reported that Madrid witnessed a protest against the American and Israeli attack in Iran, NATO policies and increased military spending.
Residents of the Spanish capital who participated in the event called for a de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
Thousands of protesters in London demonstrate against airstrikes on Iran
The march began in Atocha Square and ended in Puerta del Sol, the central square of the Spanish capital. Participants carried banners with slogans such as "No to war," "Free Palestine," "No to rearmament," "We must withdraw from NATO," and "Stop arms sales to Israel." The march included representatives from leftist movements, labor unions, student organizations, and ordinary citizens.
Andres, a resident of Madrid, said: "We don't want Spain to be subservient to the United States and to participate in its wars. This money should go to education, health care and social needs, not to military spending."
The march was organized by the Asamblea Internacionalista de Madrid, a platform comprising political, trade union, and civil society organizations. In a statement read at the end of the march, the organizers declared that "war has become a systematic phenomenon" and accused Western countries of "normalizing militarism" and abandoning diplomacy in favor of neo-colonial interests. The document stated: "We oppose any military intervention that violates the sovereignty of peoples... Bombs do not bring democracy or freedom—they bring death, destruction, and suffering."
The participants also called for an "immediate ceasefire and a complete de-escalation in all conflicts," as well as respect for international law and the UN Charter.
The document also criticized the presence of US military bases in Rota and Morón, Spain, as well as the kingdom's increased military spending. Organizers explained that they considered the protest a first step toward building a broad anti-war movement.
