Date Published: 12/10/2023
Murcianos take to the streets and demand an end to Israeli conflict
The Region of Murcia has already rescued a dozen tourists from the war zone
“We want the war to stop and no more civilians to be killed. We go out into the streets knowing that we can't do anything, but so that at least people know that we want to live in peace.”
Dozens of Palestinians living in Murcia, along with their neighbours ans supporters, gathered in the capital’s San Agustín Square on Wednesday October 11 in a show of solidarity against the war.
The conflict broke out last Sunday after the unexpected attack by Hamas against Israel with numerous kidnappings and murders in Israeli territory. The violent response by the Israeli Army at the Gaza Strip was immediate with more blood shed, most of it civilians.
While the protest was taking place, a dozen terrified tourists from the Region of Murcia stranded in Israel were anxiously awaiting the arrival of a Spanish Ministry of Defence plane that would take them home. The group was on an organised tour of the Holy Land when the war broke out.
After the massive cancellation of flights at the Tel Aviv airfield, the Israeli capital, from where the citizens of the Region were scheduled to take a flight this Friday, the group had to opt for an alternative exit that involved travelling by bus to Jordan.
Most of the 12 from the expedition are expected to leave for Madrid early on Thursday October 12 while the others will depart a few hours later.
Over the course of a couple of days, two Air Force planes have evacuated around 500 Spanish citizens and foreign residents from Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of Spanish-Israel woman Maya Villalobo, a 19-year-old who was trapped inside the Nahal Oz military base when the Hamas terrorist group stormed it.
Six people were kidnapped when the fighters stormed the base, located just a few kilometres from the Gaza Strip and until now, Maya was considered missing.
The young woman lived in Israel but returned to her home town of Seville every summer. At the time of her death, she, like all young Israelis, was completing mandatory military training.
Another Spaniard, 46-year-old Ivan Illarramendi Saizar, is also missing. He is a native of the Basque town of Zarautz but has been living two kilometres from the Gaza Strip for several years with his wife.
Image 1: IUVRM
Image 2: Ministerio de Defensa
Image 3: Spain4Israel
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268