Thousands Rally Across European Capitals to Demand an End to Israel's War on Gaza

Several thousand pro-Palestinian protesters have marched through major European capitals, demanding an immediate end to Israel’s war on Gaza. In London, demonstrators moved past the British parliament carrying placards reading “End the genocide” and “Free Palestine”.

“We are here today to mark three years of the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” Aimee Shalan, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told the AFP news agency, calling for “full sanctions on Israel”.

While a ceasefire took effect a year ago, Israel continues to strike Gaza on a near-daily basis, resulting in approximately 1,450 deaths since the truce began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. London’s Metropolitan Police reported making several arrests, including individuals holding placards supporting Palestine Action, a group banned under UK law. Officers also enforced public order powers regarding face coverings, maintaining a strict stance on potential offenses.

In Berlin, approximately 3,500 individuals participated in a march organized by United for Palestine, setting off from a square situated between the chancellery and parliament. Protesters strongly condemned Germany’s ongoing arms exports and military support for Israel. Similar demonstrations took place in Warsaw and Rome, where participants denounced the ongoing military bombardment and their respective governments' diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.

According to figures cited in the text, the conflict has resulted in the destruction of most of Gaza and caused over 74,200 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.