As the first anniversary of the fatal Hamas attack on Israel approaches, thousands of demonstrators staged demonstrations in major cities across the globe on Saturday, demanding a stop to bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East.
Roughly forty thousand pro-Palestinian protestors marched through central London, and there were also sizable rallies in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City.
Protesters demonstrated against US backing for Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon in front of the White House in Washington.
Demanding a weapons embargo against Israel, demonstrators held banners in Times Square, New York, with slogans like "Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side."
Israeli estimations state that on October 7, 2023, militants from the Palestinian Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and about 250 hostages. The Gaza conflict was started by this action.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza in retaliation has resulted in around 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's health ministry. There has also been a severe food crisis and widespread displacement.
At least a thousand pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Sunday near the US embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, the world's most populous country with a majority of Muslims, calling on Washington to stop arming Israel.
Additional protests were planned for Sunday in various cities.
Fifteen people were arrested during the London demonstration after pro-Palestinian marchers passed by and counter-protesters waved Israeli flags. The police did not disclose the identities of the people who were detained.
In Rome, police deployed tear gas and water cannons after clashes erupted when around 6,000 protesters marched in defiance of a city center ban.
A protest in Berlin attracted about 1,000 demonstrators who waved Palestinian flags and chanted: "One Year of Genocide." Israel has faced allegations of genocide at the World Court, which it denies.
German demonstrators criticized perceived police violence against pro-Palestinian protesters, while supporters of Israel rallied against rising antisemitism. Scuffles broke out between police and protesters.
Over the past year, the scale of violence and destruction in Gaza has prompted some of the largest global demonstrations seen in years, including extensive pro-Palestinian movements in the U.S.
Protesters have expressed concern over antisemitic and Islamophobic remarks made at some demonstrations, and human rights organizations have issued alerts about growing threats to the Muslim and Jewish populations worldwide.
Israel's right to self-defense is recognized by the United States and its allies, although the country has experienced strong international criticism for its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The government's steps, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are intended to stop a recurrence of Hamas' October 7 attack.
With recent increases in military operations and tensions, including missile assaults from Iran, the conflict has spread throughout the region, attracting organizations from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq that are supported by Iran.
