Madrid anti-amnesty rally falsely portrayed as pro-Palestinian event

Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to a bloody attack by Hamas has sparked protests worldwide -- including in Spain. But a video circulating online does not show pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Madrid; it was taken in November 2023 after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered an amnesty deal to Catalan separatists.

"Human flood in Spain for Palestine," says a November 13, 2023 post sharing a video of crowds in a square on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The same claim circulated elsewhere on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

The posts come more than a month after Hamas fighters killed approximately 1,200 people -- mostly civilians -- and took around 240 hostages in Israel, according to the country's latest figures.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel's ensuing aerial bombardment and ground offensive have killed more than 11,500 people, also mostly civilians.

While marches in support of Palestinians and a ceasefire have taken place around the world -- including in Spain -- the video shared online is unrelated to the conflict.

A reverse image search surfaced similar footage (archived here) from Radiotelevision Espanola (RTVE). Using a keyword search, AFP found a sequence identical to the one shared out of context (archived here).

"Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate against the amnesty throughout Spain: 'We will not be silent,'" the Spanish public broadcaster says in a November 12 X post sharing the video.

AFP photographer Oscar del Pozo captured similar viewpoints in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square that day.

Tens of thousands of Spaniards rallied nationwide after the Socialist government offered amnesty to Catalan separatists behind a failed 2017 declaration of independence.

Sanchez presented the controversial amnesty bill to shore up support needed to form a new government amid deep political divisions. Right-wing demonstrators gathered in Madrid and staged protests against the proposed law for more than a week.

The prime minister has spoken out about the conflict in the Middle East, urging Israel on November 15 to end the "indiscriminate killing of Palestinians" in Gaza.

"We demand an immediate ceasefire on the part of Israel in Gaza and strict compliance with international humanitarian law, which today is clearly not respected," Sanchez said during a debate in parliament ahead of a vote of confidence.

AFP has fact-checked other out-of-context media associated with the Israel-Hamas war here.