Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in the UK, France, and Switzerland as Israel’s assault on Gaza intensified. The demonstrations were held in support of a ceasefire and to condemn Israel’s bombing campaign, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, including many children.
In London, around 100,000 people participated in the March for Palestine, demanding an end to the violence. Protesters gathered by the River Thames before making their way to the UK parliament in Westminster. The rally marks the third consecutive weekend of large-scale demonstrations in London in support of Palestinians. Demonstrators called for a full ceasefire and criticized the UK Prime Minister’s call for a humanitarian pause, stating that more needs to be done to stop the escalation of violence.
In France, despite a court ban on public gatherings due to public order concerns, thousands of people defied the ban and joined rallies across the country. In Paris, protesters were met with a large police presence, but that did not deter them from expressing their solidarity with Palestinians. Elected officials, including a green MP and a far-left lawmaker, were among the participants. The deputy mayor of Corbeil-Essonnes, Elsa Toure, stressed the urgency of a ceasefire to prevent further loss of civilian lives.
Meanwhile, in Switzerland, thousands gathered in Zurich to demonstrate their support for Palestinians. Organizers estimated the crowd size at 7,000, while the police reported several thousand participants. Similar rallies took place in Lausanne, Geneva, and Bern, with significant turnouts in each city.
The protests come as Israel’s assault on Gaza intensifies, with its ground forces stepping up their fighting. The United Nations has warned that thousands more civilians could die as a result. The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza has reported a significant number of casualties, including 7,703 deaths, the majority of whom are civilians, with over 3,500 of them being children.
While expressing support for Palestinians is allowed in the UK, praising Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization, is not permitted. In France, the court ban on public gatherings due to concerns about public order has been enforced, leading to arrests, fines, and clashes between protesters and the police.
The demonstrations in the UK, France, and Switzerland reflect the growing global concern over the escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many believe that a ceasefire is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life and to pave the way for lasting peace in the region. The protests aim to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinians and put pressure on governments to take action to alleviate the suffering and bring an end to the violence.
