A wave of pro-Palestinian protests surged across the globe on Saturday, marking the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. The demonstrations, calling for an immediate cease-fire and condemning Israeli actions, flooded the streets of major cities like London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin. Thousands gathered in London’s Russell Square, with some protesters targeting companies like Barclays Bank and the British Museum. Scuffles broke out as police pushed back activists trying to breach a police cordon, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
In Rome, despite a ban by local authorities citing security concerns, a few thousand demonstrators gathered, chanting slogans like “Free Palestine, Free Lebanon.” The Italian authorities, fearing the potential glorification of the October 7 attack, expressed heightened security concerns, emphasizing that Europe is on high alert for possible terror attacks.
Protests also took place in other parts of the world, with dozens of left-wing activists in the Philippines demonstrating near the U.S. Embassy in Manila, where police prevented them from approaching the compound.
Amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East, security forces in several countries issued warnings of heightened security alerts in major cities. Concerns about potential violence and the risk of new terror attacks inspired by the conflict have fueled these anxieties.
In Berlin, a march is planned from the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz on Sunday, with security forces anticipating a potential overload due to the scale of the protests. German authorities have also raised alarms about increasing antisemitic and violent incidents in recent days.
France, too, is on high alert for potential protests, with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressing concern about possible tensions and highlighting the elevated terrorist threat.
In South Africa, hundreds marched through central Cape Town, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans at a pro-Gaza rally. The marchers, many wearing the keffiyeh scarf symbolizing the Palestinian struggle, walked to parliament, carrying placards accusing Israel of genocide and racism. Some chanted slogans like “Israel is a racist state” and “We are all Palestinian.” Others held signs declaring “We are all Hamas” or “Zionism is racism.”
The protests come after a year of intense conflict in the Middle East, triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2022. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, the capture of 250 hostages, and the outbreak of a war that devastated the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Nearly 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than 70 believed to be alive.
The region remains on edge, with Israel facing threats from Iran and Hezbollah, explosive drones from Yemen, and fatal shootings and stabbings. The ongoing conflict continues to cast a shadow over the Middle East, with fears of further escalation hanging heavy in the air.
