ROME (AP) – Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets Saturday in major European cities and around the world to demand the first ever ceasefire, with police in Rome using tear gas and water cannons. dispersed the violent demonstrators. The anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel approaches.
Large rallies are planned in several European cities, with the largest scheduled for Saturday through Monday. The peak of the event is Memorial Day Monday.
Thousands of people demonstrated peacefully in Rome on Saturday afternoon, but a small group held a rally in the city center despite local authorities refusing permission for the protests, citing security concerns. I tried to promote it towards the department.
Some demonstrators, dressed in black and with their faces covered, threw bottles and paper bombs at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon, eventually dispersing the crowd.
The rally in Rome has so far been peaceful, with people chanting “Free Palestine, Free Lebanon”, waving Palestinian flags and holding banners calling for an immediate end to the conflict.
In London, thousands of people gathered in Russell Square amid a heavy police presence. Some march organizers said they planned to target companies and organizations they say are “complicit in Israel’s crimes”, including Barclays Bank and the British Museum.
The atmosphere was tense as pro-Palestinian demonstrators and counter-demonstrators (some carrying Israeli flags) passed each other. Scuffles broke out as police pushed back activists who tried to break through the cordon. The Metropolitan Police announced that 15 people had been arrested on suspicion of public order offenses and assault.
About 950 people held a peaceful demonstration in the northern German city of Hamburg, many waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags and chanting “stop the genocide,” news agency dpa said, citing a police tally. reported. According to the paper, two small-scale pro-Israel counter-protests took place without incident.
Thousands of protesters gathered peacefully at Place de la République in Paris to show solidarity with Palestinians and Lebanese. Many held posters with slogans such as “Stop the Genocide,” “Liberate Palestine,” and “Hands Off Lebanon” and waved Palestinian flags.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were scheduled to take part in rallies in Washington, New York’s Times Square and several other U.S. cities, as well as other parts of the world including Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa and India. In the Philippines, dozens of left-wing activists protested near the US embassy in Manila, but police prevented them from approaching the beachfront compound.
Pro-Israel demonstrations are expected to be held on Sunday as Jews around the world still celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
This year, for many, that feeling will be extraordinarily strong, given that October 7 marks the midpoint of the 10-day period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This day marks the first anniversary of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. .
Advanced security alert
Security forces in several countries have warned that they will increase the alert level in major cities amid fears that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could spark new terrorist attacks in Europe or cause protests to turn violent.
Pro-Palestinian protests calling for an immediate ceasefire have erupted repeatedly in Europe and around the world over the past year, often turning violent, with clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers.
Local media reports said Italian authorities believed the timing of Saturday’s rally in Rome risked “glorifying” the October 7 attacks.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi also stressed that Europe was on high alert for possible terrorist attacks ahead of the important anniversary.
“This is not a normal situation. … We are already in a state of maximum prevention,” he said.
Ben Jamal, head of the UK Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said they would continue to organize marches until action was taken against Israel.
“We need more people to take to the streets to stop this carnage and stop Britain from being drawn into it,” Jamal said.
In Berlin, a march is planned from the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz on Sunday. Local media reported that security forces were warning of a possible overload due to the scale of the protests. German authorities have noted an increase in anti-Semitism and violent incidents in recent days.
Earlier this week in France, Interior Minister Bruno Routailot warned the country’s regional governors, expressing concern about the potential for escalating tensions and saying the threat of terrorism was rising.
A year of tension and bloodshed
On October 7 last year, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages, sparking a war with Israel that crushed much of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Nearly 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than 70 believed to be alive. As the region braces for further escalation, Israelis have experienced attacks including missiles from Iran and Hezbollah, explosive drones from Yemen, and shootings and stabbings.
In late September, Israel shifted some of its focus to Hezbollah, which holds significant power in parts of southern Lebanon.
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Hui reported from London. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Jamie Keaten in Geneva contributed to this story.
