Spanish sauna faces legal action after denying entry to woman wearing Star of David
The incident, at a Barcelona venue called Sauna Thermas, was captured on video and widely shared online
An advocacy group is preparing legal action after two Jewish women were allegedly denied entry to a Barcelona bathhouse when staff spotted a Star of David necklace and demanded to know whether they were “Zionists”.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, has sparked outrage among Jewish organisations in Europe and renewed concerns about the blurring of anti-Zionist activism and anti-Jewish discrimination.
The women, described as American Jews living in Barcelona, were attempting to enter Sauna Thermas, a popular sauna in the Spanish city, when members of staff, identified as Marta Busquets Gallego and Irene Cruz Gomez, allegedly noticed a Star of David necklace and challenged them over their political beliefs.
In footage circulated on social media, a woman appearing to be an employee asks one of the pair: “Are you a Zionist person?” Another member of staff then says: “The question is not Jewish, is Zionist.”
When one of the women replies that Judaism and Zionism are “kind of the same thing”, tensions escalate. Video appears to show staff and other patrons surrounding the pair and forcing them towards the exit while shouting “Free Palestine” and accusing them of supporting “genocide”.
One of the women can be heard saying: “So we’re kicked out because we’re Jewish.” The pair later attempted to re-enter the venue but were refused access. According to reports, the women have filed a police complaint.
Sauna Thermas: 'Juden Verboten'
✡️⛔ #Barcelona #Antisemitismo Toxic Socialist ???? Islamist Alliance https://t.co/W8UulDMoei— Shanty Elena ???? (@SandeRuby10) May 30, 2026
The incident has prompted a Jewish rights organisation to explore legal action against the venue, arguing that the women were subjected to unlawful discrimination on the basis of their Jewish identity. The group said the footage appeared to show visitors being subjected to what it described as a “Zionist quiz” before being allowed entry.
The sauna has not publicly responded to the allegations. Police have not announced any arrests.