Paris., Crowds participated this Sunday in protests, in favor of the Palestinians or in favor of Israel, in commemorative events around the world on the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks against Israel that sparked the current war in Gaza.
On Saturday there were demonstrations in several European cities, including London, Berlin, Paris and Rome. Other events are scheduled throughout the week, with an expected peak for Monday, the anniversary date.
In Australia, thousands of people marched this Sunday in support of the Palestinians and Lebanon in several cities, and there was also a pro-Israel demonstration in Melbourne, where some people carried signs with portraits of Israelis still held hostage in Gaza.
“We feel like we didn’t do anything to deserve this,” said Jeremy Wenstein, one of the participants. “We are just supporting our brothers and sisters who are fighting in the war.”
In Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate, hundreds of pro-Srael protesters escorted by police marched behind a banner that read “Against all anti-Semitism.”
With many Israeli flags flying overhead, some Jewish leaders chanted a song about “shalom” (peace), while protesters shouted “Free Gaza from Hamas!” and “Bring them home,” referring to the Israeli hostages.
Security forces raised the alert level in major cities amid concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could inspire new terrorist attacks in Europe or that some of the protests could turn violent.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today expressed her “total solidarity” with the police, a day after security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse violent protesters in Rome.
Meloni strongly condemned the clashes between a few pro-Palestinian protesters and officers.
During the Angelus from the Vatican, Pope Francis made a new call for peace “on all fronts” and urged his audience not to forget the many hostages still held in Gaza, calling for “their immediate release.”
The Pope called for a day of prayer and fasting this Monday, the first anniversary of the attack.
On October 7 of last year, Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 people hostage. This sparked a war that has devastated much of Gaza.
More than 41,000 Palestinians have died since then in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. He says more than half are women and children.
Nearly 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, and fewer than 70 are believed to be alive.
Since the start of the fighting, Israel has exchanged fire with the Lebanese political-paramilitary group Hezbollah, and more recently Israel launched an incursion into Lebanon to confront the militants.
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– 2024-10-07 00:44:00
