Protests happened in main cities all over the world, together with London, Madrid and Istanbul.
1000’s of individuals have taken to the streets all over the world to protest towards the warfare in Gaza, as Israel vows to maneuver ahead with its offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza.
Waving pro-Palestinian flags and banners, 1000’s marched by means of the streets of Madrid, Spain to demand a direct ceasefire in Gaza.
The gang crossed closed streets within the Spanish capital from the Atocha practice station to the central Plaza del Sol sq. behind a big banner studying: Freedom for Palestine.
Many carried indicators that learn “Peace for Palestine” and “Don't ignore Palestinian struggling.”
A minimum of six ministers from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's cupboard additionally took half within the demonstration, 5 from the left-wing Sumar occasion, his junior coalition companions, in addition to Transport Minister Oscar Puente of the Socialist Occasion of the First Minister.
“We want a direct ceasefire, an finish to the killing and assaults towards harmless individuals, we’ll get the discharge of all of the hostages,” Puente informed reporters initially of the march .
Within the UK capital, London, round 250,000 individuals took half within the protest demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, in response to the Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign (PSC).
As we speak 250,000 individuals took to the streets to demand a direct #Ceasefire NOW to #StopGazaGenocide. We won’t cease till Palestine is free 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/NPE5nqJpuZ
— PSC (@PSCupdates) February 17, 2024
Reporting from London, Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett stated that in response to organizers, the demonstration happening in London is anticipated to be among the many high three when it comes to dimension for the reason that warfare in Gaza started in October.
“This may very well be a sign of the rising concern in regards to the scenario in Gaza, in regards to the anticipated intensification by Israel of the army operations in Rafah within the south. YouGov revealed a ballot saying that two thirds of the individuals within the The UK now helps a direct ceasefire,” Fawcett stated.
Fawcett stated the principle physique of the march arrived outdoors the Israeli Embassy, the place speeches of solidarity and a static protest happened.
Organizers additionally timed the beginning of the march to make sure that an occasion at a close-by Jewish synagogue was over.
Greater than 1,500 law enforcement officials had been on the streets in London to police the protest.
In keeping with the Metropolitan Police, 12 individuals had been arrested for cartel offences, assaulting officers and refusing to take away face coverings.
“Regardless of these arrests, the vast majority of those that participated had been peaceable and acted totally throughout the regulation,” the police stated in an announcement on the X social platform.
Professional-Israel teams have tried to color the pro-Palestinian mass motion within the UK as anti-Semitic. The protest motion sees this as an try to whitewash Israel's assault on Gaza, which has now killed practically 29,000 individuals.
Professional-Palestinian protests additionally happened in Sweden and different nations, the place individuals requested Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah and known as for a ceasefire.
Demonstrations in Israel
Protests additionally happened within the Israeli capital Tel Aviv and out of doors the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem with protesters calling for a prisoner change deal and fast elections within the nation.
The demonstrations got here after Netanyahu's determination final week to not ship an Israeli delegation to Cairo for additional negotiations on a deal to launch greater than 100 prisoners nonetheless held in Gaza.
The Hostage and Lacking Households Discussion board known as the choice a “demise sentence” for the remaining prisoners.
However in a press convention on Saturday, Netanyahu denounced the potential of elections in Israel now. He additionally stated that Israel's “army stress is working” towards Hamas, claiming that the military has “reached areas in Gaza that the enemy has by no means imagined.”
“Whoever tells us to not function in Rafah is telling us to lose our ears,” he added, saying the Israeli military would assault Rafah – a metropolis in southern Gaza that now hosts greater than one million displaced Palestinians – even whether it is an settlement. to free the prisoners got here with Hamas.
