Protests erupted globally on Saturday, as thousands called for an end to the ongoing violence in Gaza, with the conflict approaching its one-year anniversary.
In London, around 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the city, while similar large gatherings took place in Paris, Rome, Manila, and Cape Town.
The Gaza war began on 7th October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, according to different media reports.
Israel’s military response has resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of almost the entire population of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, based on figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
Italian Police and demonstrators clash during a march in support of the Palestinian people in Rome, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, two days before the anniversary of Hamas-led groups attack in Israeli territory outside of Gaza on Oct. (AP)
Protester Agnes Kory, speaking from London, criticised both the Israeli government and her own, stating: “Unfortunately, in spite of all our good will, the Israeli government does not take any notice, and they just go ahead and continue their atrocities in Gaza, now also in Lebanon and in Yemen, and also probably in Iran.” She added,
“Our British government, unfortunately, is just paying lip service and carries on supplying weapons to Israel”, as reported by Reuters.
In Berlin, tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators led to scuffles, with police intervening.
A protester holds baby doll painted with fake blood during a rally in support of Palestinian people in Gaza and Lebanon in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP)
The conflict has also escalated across the region, involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. In Paris, Lebanese-French demonstrator Houssam Houssein expressed concern: “We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen.”
Despite diplomatic efforts led by the United States, a ceasefire remains elusive. Israel insists that fighting will only stop once Hamas is eliminated, while Hamas is calling for an end to hostilities.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
