Israel-Gaza war: pro-Palestinian demonstrators take to streets around world in anger at siege, strikes

Approximately 100,000 individuals participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London on a recent Saturday. The demonstrators marched through the city, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following an attack by Hamas on Israel two weeks prior. The protesters, chanting 'Free Palestine', held banners and waved Palestinian flags as they moved through London, eventually gathering at Downing Street, the official residence and office of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The police estimated that around 100,000 people participated in the 'National March for Palestine' demonstration, which was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The march was peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also marched in other cities on the same day, demanding that Israel cease its bombardment of Gaza. The Israel-Gaza war, now in its third week, has had global repercussions. On the same day, a small amount of aid entered Gaza, where over a million people have been displaced due to the conflict. Protesters gathered in the rain near London's Hyde Park before marching to the government district. They called for an end to Israel's blockade and air strikes, which were launched in response to a brutal incursion into southern Israel by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. British authorities have urged demonstrators to be mindful of the pain and anxiety experienced by the Jewish community. Recent figures showed a significant increase in antisemitic offences this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobic offences were also up. The police reported some disorder and instances of hate speech during the protests, but the majority of the protest activity was lawful and occurred without incident. In Australia, thousands marched through central Sydney, shouting 'shame, shame Israel' and 'Palestine will never die'. Gaza authorities report that more than 4,300 people have been killed in the territory since the latest war began. Over 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, mostly civilians during Hamas' deadly incursion on October 7. Israel continued to bombard targets in Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive. Some relief came when 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter Gaza via the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The war sparked protests across the Arab world and beyond, including in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians burned tyres and threw stones at Israeli military checkpoints. Israeli security forces responded by firing tear gas and live rounds. Crowds gathered in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, and South Africa. In New York, hundreds of protesters from various groups marched to US Senator Kristen Gillibrand's Manhattan office, shouting 'cease fire now'. Police later arrested dozens of protesters who blocked Third Avenue outside Gillibrand's office. In Mexico City, dozens gathered outside the Israeli Embassy, lighting candles and chanting 'Free Palestine'. Pro-Israel demonstrations and vigils have also been held globally, many focusing on securing the return of hostages captured by Hamas. Rome's Jewish community remembered the more than 200 people believed held by Hamas by setting a long Shabbat table for them outside the capital's main synagogue, with empty chairs for each of the hostages. Each chair had a flyer featuring the name, age, and photo of each missing person. On the table were candles, wine, and loaves of challah, the braided bread typically eaten during the Friday night meal.