Protest marches by thousands in Europe demand halt to Israeli bombing of Gaza
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding a halt to Israel's bombardment of Gaza marched in Paris, Berlin and other European cities on Saturday.
The marches reflected growing disquiet in Europe about the mounting civilian casualty toll and suffering from the Israel-Hamas war, particularly in countries with large Muslim populations, including France.
At a Paris rally that drew several thousand protesters, demonstrators called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and some shouted “Israel, assassin!”
In central London, streets were blocked by protesters chanting, “Cease-fire now” and “I believe that we will win.” Banners on a sound-system truck at the Paris march through rain-dampened streets read: “Stop the massacre in Gaza.” Demonstrators, many carrying Palestinian flags, chanted "Palestine will live, Palestine will win.”
Some demonstrators also took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron, chanting “Macron, accomplice.” Paris' police chief authorised the march from République to Nation, two large plazas in eastern Paris, but vowed that any behaviour deemed anti-semitic or sympathetic to terrorism would not be tolerated.
