Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators from major cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia voiced their support for the Palestinians, over the weekend as Israel expanded its air and ground strikes in Gaza.
The global outpouring of support came amid escalating tensions, with major cities such as London, Istanbul, New York, Berlin, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Rome witnessing significant protests.
In videos online, marchers who had taken over central London were heard chanting: “What do we want? Ceasefire. When do we want it? Now.”
Notably, tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through the streets of London, urging an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
Death Toll
According to Gaza authorities, the lsraeli aggression on Gaza Strip has killed more than 8,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.
- 8005 Palestinians killed, including 3324 children, 2062 women, and 460 elderly.
- 1870 reported missing, including 1020 children.
- Around 20,000 injured.
- Half a million displaced.
The situation was further exacerbated by Israel’s announcement of an ongoing military operation against Hamas, prompted by a surprise attack by the freedom fighters on October 7th, resulting in casualties and hostages.
100,000 join London march against strikes on Gaza
Central London, on October 27, witnessed 100,000 protestors taking to the streets, united in their demand for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The demonstration paralleled the record turnout of the previous Saturday’s pro-Palestinian march in the UK. Notably, there was a discernible increase in tension at this event, mirroring the unfolding events in Gaza and the growing exasperation over the government’s handling of the three-week-old conflict.
Many expressed their frustration with the UK government’s reluctance to support such a ceasefire.
“I want a ceasefire. I want peace for people of Gaza. Over the last few days, couple of weeks, I’ve just watched so many babies and children dying,” one woman told Reuters.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators flood New York
On October 28, thousands of individuals embarked on a lengthy march from Brooklyn to Manhattan, passionately advocating for a Gaza ceasefire.
At one point, the rally’s size resulted in the complete closure of all lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge. The event, aptly named “Flood Brooklyn for Gaza” by its organizers, commenced at approximately 3 p.m. on the steps of the Brooklyn Museum and saw its numbers swell at every stop along the way.
This expansive assembly made its way to the Barclays Center and proceeded to the Brooklyn Bridge, temporarily obstructing traffic as they crossed into Manhattan.
“We need a ceasefire first and foremost, and we need aid to be able to reach these innocent civilians who have no homes, no electricity, no power. The hospitals, the infrastructure has been shut down, and they need to have some kind of support right now,” one demonstrator from Rockland County said.
1.5 million attend Gaza rally in Istanbul
In Istanbul, a huge gathering for Gaza’s support, saw the participation of more than 1.5 million individuals, as confirmed by the organizers.
President Erdoğan, an influential international advocate for Palestinian rights, delivered the condemnation of Israel and its Western supporters during the rally.
“The primary party responsible for the tragic events unfolding in Gaza is the Western world,” he declared to the crowd, which fervently waved both Turkish and Palestinian flags.
Leaving no room for ambiguity, President Erdoğan asserted that the ongoing Gaza tragedy could be squarely attributed to the actions of Western powers, except for a few conscientious voices.
Furthermore, President Erdoğan characterized Israel’s conduct as that of a “war criminal.”
Solidarity rally in Berlin
Thousands of people also came together in support of Palestine in Berlin, the capital of Germany. Berlin is home to one of the largest Palestinian diaspora communities in Europe, estimated at 300,000.
Protests across the Middle East
In response to the strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip that resulted in nearly 500 casualties, thousands of people in countries across the Middle East and North Africa rallied in protest. Palestinian officials within the besieged enclave reported this tragic incident.
Prompted by a “day of rage,” individuals in Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, and the occupied West Bank demonstrated their condemnation of the attack on al-Ahli Arab Hospital. They also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, attributed the strike to Israel, while Israel denied responsibility and claimed that a misdirected rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad was the cause. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in turn, rejects Israel’s accusation.
Thousands rally in Pakistan in support of Gaza
In Islamabad, thousands of supporters from Pakistan’s primary religious political party gathered on October 29 to protest Israel’s airstrikes on Palestinians in Gaza. They voiced anti-American sentiments and accused the U.S. of “backing the aggressor”.
Initially, the Jamaat-e-Islami party had announced a march to the U.S. Embassy located in the city’s high-security diplomatic enclave. However, due to stringent measures taken by the authorities the night before, the party had to change its plans and hold the rally on a major street outside the protected enclave.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema Islam also held a massive rally in the southwestern city of Quetta to express solidarity and support for Gazans.
Protests in South India in solidarity with Palestine
Pro-Palestinian protests erupted at numerous locations throughout the southern Indian state of Kerala since the commencement of intense Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip last week.
These demonstrations unfolded in every district of Kerala, a coastal state where support for Palestine has transcended social and religious boundaries for many years.
Rahna Sabeena, a lawyer who played a coordinating role in the protests within Malappuram district, stated, “In Kerala, we organized a statewide protest spanning 300 centers. We stand unwaveringly in solidarity with Palestine”.
For decades, the Palestinian people have been deprived of justice, while Israel maintains its occupation of Palestine with the support of global powers. We reject any form of occupation by any nation in any land, he added.