As the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel approaches, thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities worldwide on Saturday, advocating for an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
In central London, approximately 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched, while significant gatherings were also witnessed in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City. Near the White House in Washington, D.C., protesters voiced their opposition to U.S. support for Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
New York's Times Square became a focal point of the demonstrations, where protesters chanted slogans such as, \"Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side.\" They also held banners calling for an arms embargo against Israel.
The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza, which has since claimed nearly 42,000 Palestinian lives, displaced almost the entire population of 2.3 million, and triggered a severe hunger crisis, as reported by Gaza's health ministry.
In Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the U.S. embassy on Sunday morning. They demanded that Washington cease supplying weapons to Israel. Additional protests were scheduled across several cities for Sunday.
London's protests saw counter-demonstrators waving Israeli flags as pro-Palestinian marchers passed by. Police made 15 arrests during the events, though details about those detained were not disclosed.
Rome experienced clashes as police deployed tear gas and water cannons against roughly 6,000 protesters who defied a ban to march in the city center in commemoration of the October 7 anniversary.
In Berlin, about 1,000 demonstrators bearing Palestinian flags raised slogans like, \"One Year of Genocide,\" amidst allegations of genocide against Israel at the World Court, which Israel denies. The protests also highlighted concerns over police violence and rising antisemitism, leading to scuffles between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.
The unprecedented scale of global demonstrations over the past year reflects the widespread outrage over the extensive loss of life and destruction in Gaza. In the United States, pro-Palestinian college campus encampments have drawn significant attention.
Amidst the protests, advocates have expressed worries about antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric circulating in some demonstrations and counter-protests. Rights groups warn of increasing threats against Muslims and Jews globally.
The United States and its allies continue to support Israel's right to self-defense. However, Israel faces substantial international criticism for its actions in Gaza and its military operations in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his government is taking measures to prevent a recurrence of the October 7 Hamas assault.
The conflict has also spread regionally, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq becoming involved. Recently, Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel, to which Israel has yet to respond.
Lebanese-French protester Houssam Houssein voiced concerns in Paris, saying, \"We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen.\" He emphasized, \"We really need to stop the war because it's now become unbearable.\"
In Manila, activists clashed with anti-riot police after being blocked from demonstrating in front of the U.S. embassy against Washington's support for Israel.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
