Thousands of people began demonstrating this Saturday in marches in support of Palestine around the world, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli territory and the start of the Israeli military invasion of Gaza, which has cost even more lives. of 41,000 people so far. From New Zealand to Europe, Saturday rolls out with protesters calling for an end to the bombings in Gaza and the West Bank and the end of the “genocide” perpetrated against the Palestinians by the Israeli government.
The marches are taking place peacefully, even though strong police forces have been deployed in some and several cities. demonstrations were banned to avoid “expressions of celebration” of the massacre of 1,200 people perpetrated by Palestinian Islamists. This was the case in Rome.where the police headquarters had banned the demonstration, citing “reasons of public security” and because it considered that the proximity of October 7 could lead to “expressions of celebration of the massacre perpetrated in Israel” by Hamas.
Despite this, around 7,000 people gathered in Piazza Ostiense in the Italian capital, amid a large police deployment of some 1,500 officers, many of whom were equipped with riot gear, to prevent demonstrators from marching in the city. The decision to ban the demonstration sparked a debate on the legitimacy of the demonstrations and freedom of expression in the transalpine country.
In London a few hundred people gathered in the city center carrying Palestinian flags and signs with which They call for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Activists marched chanting “Free Palestine” from the center of Bedford Square to the Russell Square area, near the British Museum. Others carried Iranian flags and held banners with slogans such as “we do not support genocide” and “Zionism is racism”. “Shame on those who looked away from the sadistic genocide of children, mainly in Gaza and the West Bank,” other posters read.
From Oceania to Africa
Several cities in South Africaincluding Cape Town, the one who has the greatest wealth, and Johannesburg They also experienced marches on Saturday. In the South African capital, several thousand people marched to the national parliament wearing kufiyas – the traditional Palestinian headscarf – and flags and shouting “Palestine will be free” in a massive demonstration called by the platform of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
In Johannesburg, some 2,000 people demonstrated in front of the United States Embassy for the freedom of the Palestinian and Lebanese people and for an end to the war. The South African government has always been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and the African National Congress (ANC), the party of Nelson Mandela and the country’s current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has often linked it to his own fight against the segregationist regime of apartheid (1948-1994).
In fact, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is pursuing a case brought by South Africa against Israel for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention during its military operations in the Gaza Strip. In New Zealand Protest activities have also started. The Palestine Solidarity Network group in Aotearoa, New Zealand, said there were dozens of events, including a march from the Pukeahu War Memorial to Odlins Square in Wellington on Sunday.
In Australia There will also be events in support of Palestine, including a march on Sunday in Sydney and a vigil on Monday, despite the government’s attempts to stop the calls. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said calling a pro-Palestinian event on the 7th, in which more than 1,200 people were killed by Hamas militants, would be a “an incredible provocation” and cause “great distress”.
However, a court on Thursday allowed organizers to hold the march on Sunday and the vigil on Monday in Sydney. In BangkokDozens of Thai and foreign demonstrators protested, chanting slogans such as “Bombing children is not self-defense” and demanding Palestinian freedom. In Manila Clashes took place between police and demonstrators protesting against the United States, Israel and in favor of the Palestinians. The Philippine-Palestinian Friendship Association said on its Facebook page that today’s plan included a march from Luneta Park to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, where authorities have tightened security measures. security.
