Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Stockholm, Amsterdam and Geneva on Saturday to express outrage at Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Despite the very cold weather, around 1,000 people gathered in Stockholm’s Odenplan at the call of various civil society organisations to express support for Palestine and Lebanon.
The protesters called for an end to Israeli attacks and demanded an immediate ceasefire.
Demonstrators carried banners with the inscriptions: “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Stop the genocide,” “Forever Palestine” and “Netanyahu is a war criminal,” as well as effigies depicting children killed in Gaza.
Speaking to Anadolu, Matthias Gardell, a historian from Uppsala University who attended the protest, said:
“I am here to protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people. For more than a year now, we have witnessed the first genocide in human history to be broadcast live.”
As part of weekly pro-Palestinian protests in various Dutch cities, hundreds of people gathered at Dam Square in Amsterdam.
Speakers addressing the demonstrators criticised Western governments, including the Netherlands, the US, Britain and Germany, for continuing to support Israel.
A speech delivered on behalf of Palestinian-supporting health workers in the Netherlands emphasised that the health care system in Gaza has been completely destroyed and the wounded are forced to wait in agony without being able to receive treatment.
In Geneva, protests took place at Place des Neues. Demonstrators gathered in the square and then marched through the city centre.
Waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags, they chanted slogans in French, English and Arabic condemning Israel.
Meanwhile, a massive anti-government rally was held in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, with activists demanding that authorities immediately strike a deal to release hostages who have been held in the Gaza Strip for more than 400 days.
The protest, which drew several thousand people, took place outside the defence ministry headquarters. Police blocked traffic in the area of the rally and put up barriers to prevent possible riots and blocking of neighbouring highways, which has happened repeatedly at previous protests.
