Huge pro-Palestine mob target Israeli dance show... only for performers to win a standing ovation

Protesters held Palestinian flags and displayed a banner reading "Israel dances while it kills in Gaza" and "Against the whitewashing of genocide" in Spanish.

The group are also said to have demanded a total boycott of Batsheva, which is currently presenting its show "Sadeh21", as well as a cancellation of any future shows.

Footage from the demonstration shows hundreds of protesters gathered outside the doors to the theatre from around 7pm, an hour before the show's starting time, shouting pro-Palestine chants, along with "boycott Israel" and "Free Palestine".

It is claimed some members of the protest even screamed "murderers" and "shame on you" to audience members innocently taking their seats at the theatre.

In spite of the outside noise, the dance performance went ahead as planned and, according to the Israeli embassy in Spain, even received a standing ovation.

Dances were scheduled to take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with all three shows reportedly sold out.

On Friday, the Israeli embassy took to social media to congratulate the performers.

"Yesterday the Israeli dance company Batsheva had its grand premiere at the @teatroscanal in Madrid," the embassy wrote.

"The audience, among whom were the Minister of Culture of the Community of Madrid and the Chargé d'Affaires of Israel in Spain, was able to enjoy a performance of the highest level.

"Full house, standing ovation, and sold-out tickets for the three days are marking this company's passage through Spain."

Among the protesters on Thursday was Spanish choreographer and dancer Nacho Duato, who has called for Batsheva's performances to be cancelled before.

His argument centres on the fact that Russian dance companies were boycotted after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Mr Duato has also previously described Hamas as a "liberation movement" and refused to acknowledge the group as a terrorist organisation.

The Israeli embassy responded unequivocally on X: "Nacho Duato is now leading, in Madrid, the boycott against the Israeli Batsheva Dance Company and supporting the Hamas terrorist group that carried out the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel."

Thursday's demonstration was organised by the global BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement. The group say they sent a letter to Ruperto Merino, the director of Teatros del Canal, weeks ago opposing Batsheva's performance.

The boycott "is not directed at any particular artist but at the company as an institution used by the Israeli government as a diplomatic strategy and to whitewash the genocide it is committing in Gaza," a spokesman for the group said.

Mr Merino, who reports directly to Spain's Department of Culture, flatly rejected calls for the show's cancellation and insisted the theatre's performers will be based on professional decisions, not political.

A Batsheva spokesman told Spanish outlet El Pais the company is not political but has called for a ceasefire and an "end to the bloodshed in Gaza" following the devastating October 7 attacks.

"It has been one of the few cultural institutions to speak out so unequivocally during this period," the spokesman added.

The company also said they are used to protesters outside their shows, adding they know how to manage demonstrations without confrontation.

Batsheva, which is a non-profit organisation, is funded by the state of Israel.