Over the weekend, thousands of protesters around the globe gathered in major cities to demand an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the wider Middle East. Marking the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, demonstrators voiced their calls for peace and an immediate halt to the bloodshed.
In London, approximately 40,000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through the city center, while similar demonstrations unfolded in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City. Near the White House in Washington, D.C., protesters rallied against U.S. support for Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.
In New York’s Times Square, protesters chanted, “Gaza, Lebanon, you will rise, the people are by your side,” and carried banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel.
The conflict intensified after Palestinian Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza, which Gaza’s health ministry reports has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, devastated the enclave, displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, and triggered a severe hunger crisis.
In Asia, at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, on Sunday morning. They called on Washington to stop supplying weapons to Israel. Similarly, in Manila, activists clashed with anti-riot police after being blocked from protesting in front of the U.S. embassy against U.S. support for Israel.
Additional protests were planned in several cities on Sunday.
In London, counter-demonstrators waved Israeli flags as pro-Palestinian marchers passed by. Police reported 15 arrests during the protests but did not specify the affiliations of those detained.
In Rome, clashes broke out as around 6,000 protesters defied a ban to march in the city center ahead of the October 7 anniversary. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Berlin saw approximately 1,000 protesters carrying Palestinian flags and chanting, “One Year of Genocide.” The conflict has led to genocide allegations against Israel at the World Court, which Israel denies. German demonstrators also criticized police actions against pro-Palestinian protesters, while Israel supporters protested against rising antisemitism. Scuffles occurred between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.
Over the past year, the scale of destruction in Gaza has spurred some of the largest global demonstrations in recent years, including extended pro-Palestinian encampments on U.S. college campuses.
Advocacy groups have raised concerns about antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric in some protests and counter-protests. Rights organizations warn of increasing threats against Muslims and Jews worldwide.
The United States and other allies have supported Israel’s right to self-defense. However, Israel faces widespread international criticism over its actions in Gaza and its recent bombardment of Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that his government is acting to prevent a repeat of the October 7 assault by Hamas.
The conflict has expanded throughout the region, involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Israel has sharply escalated military actions in Lebanon in recent weeks. Iran launched a barrage of missiles against Israel this week, to which Israel has not yet responded.
In Paris, Lebanese-French protester Houssam Houssein expressed fears of a regional war. “We fear a regional war because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen,” he said. “We really need to stop the war because it’s now become unbearable.”
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
