Demonstrations took place in a number of world capitals coinciding with the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel and the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.
The British police arrested a group of demonstrators who marched among tens of thousands of people in support of the Palestinians in central London, and the Metropolitan Police said that they arrested two people on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, explaining that the arrests took place when “people tried to bypass the officers who formed a cordon to prevent any groups.” From separating from the main protest,” according to the American Bloomberg Agency.
The police added that the demonstration that took place in Bedford Square on Saturday faced “counter-protests,” amid tight security measures and a heavy deployment of police forces.
Shortly after, they closed Gower Street near the British Museum, and police appeared to work to prevent the group from meeting another group of activists in a nearby area.
While supporters of Israel waved flags as pro-Palestinian protesters passed, the police said that they arrested 15 people on the sidelines of the protests, and did not specify which group of supporters the detainees belonged to, according to Reuters.
London also witnessed a march in support of the Palestinians, and about 40,000 demonstrators participated in it, while other world capitals witnessed marches in which thousands gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, New York City, and others.
Demonstrations were also held near the White House in Washington, to protest the United States’ support for its ally Israel in the military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.
In Rome, police fired tear gas and used water cannons after clashes broke out. About 6,000 protesters defied a ban on organizing marches in the city center, ahead of the October 7 anniversary.
In Berlin, a protest attracted about a thousand participants who carried Palestinian flags and chanted “a year of genocide,” a term Israel opposes and says it is “defending itself.” Protesters also criticized what they said was police violence against pro-Palestinian supporters in Germany.
Supporters of Israel also participated in Berlin in a protest against growing anti-Semitism. Skirmishes broke out between police and people opposing pro-Palestinian protests.
Over the past year, the scale of killing and destruction in Gaza has sparked some of the largest global protests in years.
US government agencies have warned that the anniversary of the October 7 attack and the outbreak of the Gaza war may motivate individuals to commit acts of violence.
Officials in some states, including New York, have increased security measures out of caution.
US-led international diplomacy has not yet succeeded in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Demonstrations are expected to occur in other regions of the world in the coming hours.
Last updated: October 6, 2024 – 14:41
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2024-10-07 10:28:50