Global Protests Demand End to Middle East Bloodshed Ahead of Hamas Attack Anniversary<\/h2>
On the eve of the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, thousands of protesters around the world took to the streets on Saturday, calling for an end to the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East. Major cities across the globe witnessed mass demonstrations as people voiced their solidarity with the Palestinian cause and demanded immediate peace initiatives.<\/p>
Mass Demonstrations in Major Cities<\/h3>
In London, approximately 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the city center, waving flags and chanting slogans. Similar scenes unfolded in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City, where thousands gathered to express their concerns over the escalating conflict. In Washington, D.C., protesters assembled near the White House, urging the U.S. government to reconsider its support for Israel's military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.<\/p>
At New York's Times Square, protesters chanted, \"Gaza, Lebanon, you will rise; the people are by your side,\" and held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel. In Rome, despite a ban on marching in the city center, around 6,000 protesters defied authorities, leading to clashes with police who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.<\/p>
Clashes and Arrests<\/h3>
In London, counter-demonstrators waved Israeli flags as pro-Palestinian marchers passed by, resulting in heightened tensions. Police reported 15 arrests on the sidelines of the protests, though it was not specified from which group the detainees belonged. In Berlin, approximately 1,000 demonstrators with Palestinian flags chanted \"One Year of Genocide,\" referring to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Scuffles broke out between police and protesters amid allegations of police violence and rising antisemitism.<\/p>
Regional Concerns and Calls for Peace<\/h3>
The war in Gaza was triggered when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of about 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel's subsequent military assault on Gaza has, according to Gaza's health ministry, killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, displacing nearly all of the enclave's 2.3 million residents and creating a humanitarian crisis.<\/p>
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that his government is acting to prevent a repeat of the October 7 assault by Hamas. However, Israel faces international condemnation over its actions in Gaza and its bombardment of Lebanon. The conflict has spread throughout the region, involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Iran recently launched a barrage of missiles against Israel, to which Israel has not yet responded.<\/p>
Protests in Asia and Beyond<\/h3>
In Jakarta, Indonesia—the world's most populous Muslim-majority country—at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the U.S. embassy on Sunday morning, demanding that Washington cease supplying weapons to Israel. In Manila, activists clashed with anti-riot police after being blocked from demonstrating in front of the U.S. embassy, protesting against the U.S. support for Israel.<\/p>
Lebanese-French protester Houssam Houssein, participating in Paris, expressed fears of a regional war due to tensions with Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. \"We really need to stop the war because it's now become unbearable,\" he said.<\/p>
Global Response and Rising Tensions<\/h3>
Over the past year, the scale of the conflict in Gaza has sparked some of the largest global demonstrations in recent times, including significant protests in the United States. Advocates have raised concerns over antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric emerging from some protests and counter-protests. Rights groups warn of rising threats against Muslims and Jews worldwide.<\/p>
The United States and other allies have supported Israel's right to self-defense but have urged caution over the humanitarian impact of military operations. As the conflict continues to escalate, calls for an immediate ceasefire and renewed peace negotiations are intensifying from all corners of the globe.<\/p>
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
