By: Ishita Goel
November 15 2023
Video of protest against Spanish government is shared as pro-Palestine rally
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Screenshots of X, Facebook posts claiming that the attached video shows pro-Palestinian protests in Spain (Source: X/Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)
Fact-Check
The Verdict Misleading
The protest was held against the acting government's plan to offer amnesty to those who took part in the failed push for Catalan independence in 2017.
Claim ID d760b216
What's the claim?
On October 29, pro-Palestinian protesters demanded a ceasefire at a demonstration in Madrid. Around 35,000 people participated in the protest, shouting "Freedom for Palestine," reported France24.
A video of a demonstration is being shared with claims that it shows a rally in support of Palestine in Spain. Facebook and X users (archived here, here, and here) shared the video and wrote, "Human flood in Spain for Palestine. Spain." Another iteration, archived here, read, "Forgot to mention to the huge demonstration to suppoert &Palestine in #Spain 🇪🇸 the protesters demanded an immediate ceasefire in #Gaza Strip They yelled #CeasefireInGazaNOW." (sic)
Screenshot of claims circulating online. (Source: Facebook/X/Screenshots/Modified by Logically Facts)
What are the facts?
Through a reverse image search, we found that the video is from a recent rally held in Spain on November 12, 2023, against the country's government. It is unrelated to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
El Mundo, a Spanish daily, posted the viral video on their Instagram account on November 13 and wrote in Spanish, "Spain stands up against amnesty. In the capitals of all provinces and in some of the major European cities, the Spaniards have stood before the cessions that Pedro Sanchez has made with the Catalan and Basque nationalists in exchange for their votes, essential to continue governing."
Instagram video showing anti-government demonstration in Spain. (Source: Instagram)
Similarly, Reuters on November 12 posted a video report on the rally; at the 0:01 mark, the keyframe of this video matches the viral video. The video's caption on X read, "Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain against acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's plans to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for support for another term in office."
The buildings, the crowd, and the green structure at the center of the square in the viral video can also be seen in Reuters' footage.
Comparison of frames of the viral video on X and the Reuters video. (Source: X/Reuters/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)
Why are Spanish people protesting?
Hundreds of people have protested in Spain as the nation's acting government plans to form a new coalition minority government to secure another term in office after the inconclusive election in July. Reuters reported that a massive protest was held on Sunday, November 12, in Madrid against acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez's plan to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for their support. On Thursday, the acting government secured a deal with Catalan separatist party Junts; this includes passing a contentious law providing clemency to separatists who illegally pushed Catalan independence in 2017.
The Guardian reported that during the gathering at Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, protestors carried effigies of Sánchez as Pinocchio, chanted, "Prison for Pedro Sánchez," and carried banners with messages including: "Democracy in Spain is at risk," "Sánchez traitor" and "No amnesty for terrorism – Europe, save us."
The verdict
The viral video of people protesting is from Spain. A demonstration was held to express dissatisfaction with the acting government's plan to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists to secure another term in office. The protest was unrelated to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict; therefore, we have marked the claim as misleading.
