SHOTLIST:

MADRID, SPAIN (JAN. 8, 2026) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED OUTSIDE MOVISTAR ARENA

2. VARIOUS OF TENSION BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND COUNTER-PROTESTERS

3. LEADER OF PODEMOS, IONE BELARRA SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Spanish)

4. PROTESTER, PEDRO LOPEZ SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Spanish) MADRID, SPAIN - JAN. 8: A protest was held on Thursday outside the Movistar Arena in Madrid ahead of the EuroLeague basketball match between Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv, targeting the Israeli team.

The game was played behind closed doors following calls from more than 250 civil society organizations for its cancellation, citing security concerns.

Spanish police allowed access through only one of the arena’s four entrances, blocked surrounding roads with armored vehicles and imposed strict security measures.

Demonstrators gathered in the square outside the arena, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans including “Free Palestine,” “Killer Israel,” and “Maccabi Tel Aviv out.”

Podemos leader Ione Belarra told reporters that despite what she described as a media campaign led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the situation in Gaza continued.

She said Israel was using participation in sporting events to legitimize its actions and argued the match should not have been played.

Belarra also claimed that following what she described as a “false ceasefire,” hundreds of people had been killed and injured in Gaza, while humanitarian aid was still being blocked from entering the territory.

She further alleged that Spain continued military trade with Israel despite announced sanctions.

One of the demonstrators, Pedro Lopez, told Anadolu that protests against what he described as genocide must continue, adding that Israel was continuing its attacks despite ceasefire claims.

Following pressure from Spanish civil society groups, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s matches against Barcelona on Jan. 6 and Real Madrid on Thursday were played without spectators.