Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Saturday in central London and Berlin, calling for an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza. This demonstration was held to commemorate the third anniversary of the October 7, 2020 Hamas attack.
Anti-War Shouts and Calls for Comprehensive Sanctions
Protesters at this demonstration, holding placards such as "End the Genocide" and "Freedom for Palestine", marched towards the British Parliament. Aimi Shalan, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, stated at the demonstration: "We are here today to commemorate three years of ongoing genocide in Gaza." She also called for complete sanctions against Israel, saying that Western sanctions are insufficient against the violence of colonizers.
Read more: Consequences of the October 7 Attack on Elections in Israel
Since the ceasefire began a year ago, although Israel has reduced the level of its attacks, it still attacks Gaza almost daily. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, recent attacks have resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,450 Palestinians since the ceasefire.
The Impact of War on Youth and Global Concerns
A 23-year-old graduate named Haibo Hassan said at the demonstration that he came to express his solidarity, adding: "Although this event is happening in the Middle East, it affects us here today." He expressed deep concern about the current situation, stating: "This situation is extremely dystopian, and we should all be afraid of it."
Another protester, a 32-year-old migrant from Kosovo who introduced himself as Kabi, said that his experience of war has compelled him to "stand up today and prevent history from repeating itself."
In contrast to this demonstration, a small anti-demonstration called "Stop the Hate" was held by a Jewish group supporting Israel. Prior to the demonstration, the Metropolitan Police of London announced that they would use their legal powers to ask individuals to remove coverings used to conceal their identities. Karl Galvin, a senior officer of the Metropolitan Police, stated: "We will have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crimes and other offenses."
In Berlin, a similar demonstration organized by the group "United for Palestine" attracted around 3,500 people. Protesters at this demonstration protested against Germany's arms exports to Israel, displaying banners and placards criticizing Berlin's military support. Germany has regarded its strong support for Israel as a fundamental duty for decades, especially due to the Nazis' responsibility for the genocide of millions of European Jews during the Holocaust.
One student who wished to remain anonymous said at the demonstration: "It is really terrible that Germany has such a hard time criticizing Israel."
The demonstrations in London and Berlin took place three days after the third anniversary of the October 7, 2020 attack. This attack was the deadliest in Israel's history, resulting in the deaths of 1,221 people. Additionally, militants took 251 hostages to Gaza, 44 of whom have already died. In response, Israel launched a military attack that has devastated most areas of Gaza and killed over 74,200 people.
Read more: Moroccan King: Migration Cooperation Model with Spain Has Reached Limitations · Norway Provides an Additional $13 Million in Aid to Palestinians
