Thousands worldwide protest Mideast war as 1-year mark nears

Thousands of protesters were marching in cities around the world over the weekend, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon as the war in the Middle East approached its first anniversary.

Pro-Palestinian supporters gathered in cities in Europe, Africa and the Americas to demand an end to the conflict, according to media reports. Crowds of protesters gathered in Paris, London, Rome, Cape Town, New York and other cities. Demonstrations were also held near the White House in Washington, protesting U.S. support for its ally Israel in military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.

Dozens of protests and commemorations were set to take place ahead of the one-year anniversary on Monday of the Hamas militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the territory’s health ministry and described as reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli military has now opened a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In France, home to the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe, protesters took to the streets in cities across the country, with demonstrations on Saturday in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Strasbourg to express solidarity with Palestinians, France 24 reported.

In Paris, Lebanese-French demonstrator Houssam Houssein warned that an escalation would engulf the entire Mideast. “We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen,” Houssein said. “We really need to stop the war because it’s now become unbearable.”

In Rome, clashes erupted between protesters and police at an unauthorized pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday after several thousand people gathered in the center of the Italian capital. Demonstrators wearing face coverings threw bottles, firecrackers and traffic signs at the security forces, who responded with the use of tear gas and water cannons, according to media reports.

Italian authorities had banned the demonstration due to security concerns. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stressed before the demonstration that the security authorities in Italy were on high alert due to the possibility of terrorist attacks before the anniversary.

About 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London, with protesters calling for an end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the BBC reported. Tens of thousands walked from Russell Square to Whitehall, where speeches took place outside Downing Street, with people travelling from around the country to take part.

In Washington, more than a thousand protesters demonstrated outside the White House on Saturday, with many demanding an end to U.S. military and other aid to its strategic ally, Israel, according to media reports. Protesters waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags, among others, with many holding up signs and chanting in unison to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

At Times Square in New York City, protesters wore the black-and-white keffiyeh scarf and chanted slogans like: “Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side,” Reuters reported. They held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel, according to the report.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that Israel had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters in its ground operations in southern Lebanon and destroyed 2,000 Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not released death tolls.