Thousands rally globally ahead of first anniversary of Hamas vs Israel faceoff
Moroccan women wave flags and chant slogans in support of Gaza and Lebanon during a protest in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Thousands of protesters worldwide took to the streets on Saturday, demanding an end to the bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East, ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas-Israel faceoff following the October 7 attack.
Demonstrations were held in major cities, including London, where 40,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched, Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, New York City, and near the White House in Washington.
Protesters in New York’s Times Square chanted slogans like “Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side” and held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel.
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Similar protests were held in Jakarta, Indonesia, where at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the U.S. embassy, demanding that Washington stop supplying weapons to Israel.
The conflict began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction, displacing almost the entire 2.3 million population and causing a hunger crisis.
Tensions have risen, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq drawn into the conflict. Israel has escalated its campaign in Lebanon, and Iran recently launched a barrage of missiles against Israel. Concerns have been raised about antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric in some protests and counter-protests, with rights advocates warning of rising threats against Muslims and Jews globally.
In London, counter-demonstrators waved Israeli flags as pro-Palestinian marchers walked by, with 15 arrests made on the sidelines of the protests. Rights advocates have warned about rising threats against Muslims and Jews around the world. The United States and other allies have supported Israel’s right to self-defense, but Israel has faced wide international condemnation over its actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government is acting to prevent a repeat of the October 7 assault by Hamas.
The war in Gaza has spread through the region, drawing in Iran-backed groups. Lebanese-French protester Houssam Houssein expressed concerns about a regional war due to tensions with Iran, Iraq, and Yemen, emphasizing the need to stop the war as it has become unbearable.
