Thousands worldwide rallied on Saturday, calling for an end to violence in Gaza and the broader Middle East as the first anniversary of the conflict between Israel and Hamas approaches.
Approximately 40,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian march in London, with similar protests in cities like Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City. Demonstrators near the White House expressed their dissatisfaction with U.S. military aid to Israel, particularly regarding operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
In New York's Times Square, protesters donned black-and-white keffiyeh scarves, chanting slogans such as “Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side,” while holding banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel.
The conflict has escalated significantly since Hamas assaulted southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and up to 250 hostages taken. The ongoing military campaign in Gaza has led to nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, displacing almost all of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.
Agnes Kory, a protester in London, expressed frustration that Israelis seem unresponsive to the international outcry, criticizing the British government for its unwavering support of arms supplies to Israel. In Jakarta, Indonesia, over 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. embassy, demanding an end to military assistance for Israel. Concurrently, anti-Palestinian demonstrators outside the Israeli embassy in London, carrying Israeli flags, resulted in at least 15 arrests.
Clashes erupted in Rome, where police deployed tear gas and water cannons against protesters, and in Berlin, where around 1,000 individuals chanted “One Year of Genocide.” Some protests have been marked by troubling incidents of antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric.
The conflict has drawn in various regional groups, including Iran-backed forces from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Israel's intensified operations in Lebanon have led to significant casualties and displacement.
Despite the worldwide protests advocating for peace and diplomacy, international appeals have yet to produce tangible results. Hamas is calling for an end to hostilities, while Israel maintains that a truce is contingent upon Hamas's dismantlement.
