ROME – Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent protesters in Rome as tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in major European cities and around the world on Saturday to call for an end to the shootings that marked the first Hamas attack on Israel.
Large rallies were planned in several European cities, and large rallies are expected to last from Saturday to Monday. Events will culminate on Monday, the anniversary date.
In Rome, several thousand demonstrated peacefully on Saturday afternoon until a small group tried to push the rally towards the center of the city, despite being blocked by local authorities who refused to authorize the protests, citing security concerns.
Some protesters, who were dressed in black and covered their faces, threw bottles and paper bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and water guns, finally dispersing the crowd.
The meeting in Rome had previously been peaceful, with people chanting “Free Palestine, Free Lebanon,” waving Palestinian flags and holding placards calling for an immediate end to the conflict.
In London, thousands gathered in Russell Square amid heavy police presence. Some of the organizers of the march said they were planning to target companies and institutions they said were “participating in Israeli crime,” including Barclays Bank and the British Museum.
The situation was tense as Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters, some carrying Israeli flags, passed each other. Chaos broke out when the police pushed the activists who were trying to pass the rope. 15 people have been arrested on suspicion of public harassment and assault, the London Metropolitan Police said.
In the northern German city of Hamburg, about 950 people held a peaceful protest, many waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags or chanting “Stop the Genocide,” DPA news agency said, citing police figures. Two smaller pro-Israel demonstrations took place without incident, it said.
Several thousand protesters gathered peacefully in Paris’ Republique Plaza to show solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Many waved Palestinian flags while holding signs reading “stop the genocide,” “free Palestine,” and “hands off Lebanon.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters also planned to join rallies in Washington, New York’s Times Square and several other cities in the United States and other parts of the world, including Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa and India. In the Philippines, dozens of left-wing activists protested near the US Embassy in Manila, where police prevented them from approaching the compound by the sea.
Pro-Israel protests are expected to be held on Sunday as Jews around the world observe Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year.
This year, emotions will be unusually strong for many given that during the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur on Oct. 7 – the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. .
Advanced security warnings
Security forces in several countries have warned of a heightened state of alert in major cities, amid concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could spark new terror attacks in Europe or that protests could turn violent.
Pro-Palestinian protests calling for a ceasefire have sprung up across Europe and around the world in the past year and have often turned violent, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement officials.
Italian authorities believe that the timing of Saturday’s meeting in Rome poses the risk of an October 7 attack “to be praised,” local media reported.
The Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi also emphasized that, before celebrating the important day, Europe is very careful about possible terrorist attacks.
“This is not a normal situation. … We are already in a very defensive position,” he said.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Britain, said he and others will continue to organize marches until action is taken against Israel.
“We need to take to the streets in huge numbers to stop this carnage and stop Britain from getting involved,” Jamal said.
In Berlin, a march is planned from the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz on Sunday. Local media reported that security forces warned of possible overcrowding due to the scale of the protests. German authorities have pointed to an increase in antisemitic incidents and violence in recent days.
Earlier this week in France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned the country’s regional authorities, expressing concern about possible unrest and saying the terrorist threat is high.
It’s been a rough and bloody year
On October 7 last year, Hamas suddenly attacked Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, abducting 250 people and starting a war with Israel that disrupted most of the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas.
More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since then in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
About 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, and fewer than 70 are believed to be alive. Israelis have experienced attacks — missiles from Iran and Hezbollah, drone strikes from Yemen, deadly shootings and stabbings — as the region braces for further expansion.
In late September, Israel shifted some of its focus to Hezbollah, which holds most of the power in parts of southern Lebanon.
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