{"id":26191,"date":"2023-11-19T13:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/pro-palestinian-demonstrators-rally-across-europe-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-19T13:00:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-19T13:00:07","slug":"pro-palestinian-demonstrators-rally-across-europe-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/pro-palestinian-demonstrators-rally-across-europe-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally across Europe | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nPARIS:
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Thousands of protesters took part in rallies across France and Britain on Saturday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, while hundreds of others turned out again in cities across Europe.<\/p>\n

Protests have been held across Europe since the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel unleashed the latest Gaza war.<\/p>\n

Several thousand people marched through central Paris in torrential rain behind a banner saying “Halt the massacre in Gaza and West Bank, immediate ceasefire”.<\/p>\n

“France must immediately call for a ceasefire so that the guns go silent,” said CGT union secretary general Sophie Binet, one of several union leaders to speak at the rally.<\/p>\n

The CGT estimated that 60,000 people rallied in the capital and a further 40,000 gathered in dozens of other towns across the country.<\/p>\n

In Marseille, AFP saw several hundred people stage a minute’s silence for Palestinian victims of the war, while in Toulouse more than 1,200 people took part in a march, according to police.<\/p>\n

Israel says Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and took 239 hostage when they stormed across the border on October 7.<\/p>\n

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says around 12,300 people have died in the Palestinian territory in Israel’s relentless military response, more than 5,000 of them children.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Europe, organisers said around 4,000 people marched in Geneva, lighting candles displayed as a map of Gaza in front of the United Nations’ European headquarters.<\/p>\n

One large banner read “Stop Genocide in Gaza,” and many shouted “Free, free Palestine!” in English.<\/p>\n

Two rallies were held in Amsterdam, one urging a ceasefire for Gaza, another demanding the release of the Hamas-held hostages, though police said the protests were calm and no arrests were made.<\/p>\n

Several thousands marched in Lisbon, many also shouting in English “Palestine will be free”.<\/p>\n

“I think the injustice toward Palestine, for the past 75 years, is incredibly severe,” said Maria Joao Ralha, 64.
A few hundred people marched through Warsaw, with the protest culminating in a rally in front of Israel’s embassy in Poland.<\/p>\n

In Istanbul, which has seen massive protests called by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging an end to Israel’s campaign, about 100 people lit flares and held up anti-war banners under heavy rain outside the Israeli consulate.<\/p>\n

The rally was called by football supporter groups, which often play an important role in Turkish protests.
All Israeli diplomatic staff left Turkey last month as a security precaution.<\/p>\n

In Britain, the protest numbers were smaller after more than 300,000 people staged a pro-Palestinian march in London last Saturday.<\/p>\n

One targeted an office where the leader of the main opposition Labour party, Keir Starmer, holds meetings, with protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Ceasefire now”.<\/p>\n

Some held placards reading “Stop the war in Gaza” and “Starmer — blood on your hands” amid a heavy police presence in the Camden area of north London.<\/p>\n

Starmer, a former human rights lawyer whose party is predicted to win an election expected next year, has refused to call for a permanent ceasefire, sparking a string of resignations from his top team. Instead, he has called for a humanitarian pause to Israel’s bombardment to allow aid in for the 2.4 million people in Gaza.<\/p>\n

One protester at the London event, Nicoleta, 36, held a placard reading “Bombing hospitals is a crime”.
“Because I’m a health care provider I’m here to defend the hospitals, the innocent civilians, the children in incubators,” she said.<\/p>\n

The rally was one of many smaller protests organised nationwide by the Stop The War Coalition.<\/p>\n

London police said on Saturday they had now made 386 arrests since the October 7 attacks.<\/p>\n

Showing support for Hamas is an offence in Britain, as the organisation is considered a terrorist group.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n