Pro-Palestine Protests Keep Raging on at La Vuelta Cycling Event

(MENAFN) Pro-Palestine demonstrators intensified their disruption of the La Vuelta A Espana cycling race in Spain on Sunday, demanding the removal of the Israel-Premier Tech team from the competition.

The team is partially owned by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams, known for his close ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Since the race’s start on August 23, protests have persisted. During the 15th stage in Galicia, a protester entered the racecourse, causing a crash involving Spanish cyclist Javier Romo and Belgian rider Edward Planckaert.

On September 6, hackers reportedly took control of the race’s radio channels, airing pro-Palestine messages and songs.

Authorities confirmed the detention of 10 individuals accused of disturbing public order amid ongoing demonstrations throughout the event.

Villages lining the race route were heavily decorated with Palestinian flags and banners bearing slogans such as “Stop the genocide,” “Israel is a Murderer,” and “Free Palestine.”

The protests have already impacted race operations. On September 3, the Bilbao stage was cut short by 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) due to disruption related to opposition against the Israeli team’s participation.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares publicly called for the Israeli team’s expulsion and voiced full support for the protests. Meanwhile, Minister for Youth and Children Sira Rego urged race director Javier Guillen to remove the Israeli squad and permit continued demonstrations.

Facing mounting pressure, Israel-Premier Tech recently eliminated the word “Israel” from its riders’ jerseys, citing security concerns.

Protests are expected to continue at every city along La Vuelta’s route, culminating in a large demonstration planned in Madrid during the race’s final stage on September 14.

The conflict in Gaza entered its 700th day on Friday, with over 64,000 Palestinians reported killed in what has been described as a genocidal campaign by Israel. The ongoing military assault has left the Gaza Strip devastated and facing famine conditions.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also being investigated by the International Court of Justice for genocide related to its military actions in the region.

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