SPANISH socialist party Podemos began its autumn congress on Saturday, with the first day heavily focused on international solidarity and the need to build a strong united European movement of the left.

The war against the Palestinians in Gaza inevitably took centre stage.

Wearing a keffiyeh, secretary-general Ionne Balarra told the congress: “What is the difference between what the Nazis did and burning people alive under cloth in a hospital? None.

“Together we can stop the genocidal [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.”

Podemos MEP Irene Montero called for real political change in Spain, arguing that this would be achieved by growing “the forces of peace, of feminism, of anti-racism, of human rights. 

“If we have learned anything in these years, it is that despite the high price they make us pay, change is possible,” she added.

“The more difficult it seems, the more we are told it is impossible, the more necessary it is to raise hope, to dream of a better world and make it possible hand in hand.”

After quoting the maxim of iconic African-American revolutionary Angela Davis — “I’m not accepting the things I can’t change, I’m changing the things I can’t accept” — Ms Montero said: “These words from Angela Davis are the reason why we are proud Podemos members. Proud of the international alliances with which we change the things we cannot accept.”

British politician Jeremy Corbyn also addressed the Congress.

The independent MP for Islington North said: “As we look to build a united left across Europe, there are three key issues that can form the basis of a strong, powerful movement: anti-austerity, peace and opposition to the far right.

Mr Corbyn condemned the British government for supporting the Israel war on the Palestinians in Gaza. 

“We talk about Gaza as a ‘humanitarian crisis’,” he said. “But the truth is it’s not a humanitarian crisis. It’s a genocide, aided and abetted by governments including our own.”