Jewish women say they were denied entry to a women-only sauna in Barcelona after being asked if they were Zionists and one of them wore a Star of David necklace. Video from the scene captures chants of “Free Palestine” and staff members making anti-Israel statements. The incident, which led to a police complaint, adds to reports of a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Spain.
According to witness accounts and footage posted online, women who arrived at a women-only sauna in the city were refused entry after one of them wore a Star of David necklace. During the confrontation, the two were asked if they were Zionists, and when they answered yes, people at the venue began chanting “Free Palestine.”
In the video, staff members are seen confronting the two women, with one saying she opposes Zionists and demanding they leave. The women protested the decision and argued they were being denied entry because of their Jewish identity and support for Israel. According to them, no one present intervened on their behalf, and security personnel even threatened to call the police. After the incident, the two went to a local police station and filed an official complaint.
The incident was publicized by Israeli advocacy activist Hen Mazzig, among others, who noted that the silence of bystanders was no less disturbing than the incident itself. The incident joins a series of reports about a significant rise in antisemitism in Spain since Hamas’s terror attack on October 7, 2023. According to data published by Jewish communities in the country, 2025 saw a 321% increase in antisemitic incidents in Spain.