Manifestations were held in cities in Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and England; In London, police arrested more than 300 people act of the forbidden group Palestinian
Hundreds of thousands of people protested on Saturday (4) in several cities in Europe, demanding the immediate end of the conflict in and the liberation of the activists detained aboard the humanitarian intercepted by Israel while carrying help to Palestinian territory. In, protesters took to the streets for the fourth consecutive day, with bands and shouts like “We are all Palestinians”, “Free Palestine” and “Stop Genocide”. The organizers said there were 1 million people, but the Italian police estimated 250,000 participants.
In Barcelona, about 70,000 people marched around the city in a peaceful climate, police said. In Dublin, thousands of protesters remembered what they called “two years of genocide” in the Gaza Strip. And they are among the most critical European countries to the Israeli military offensive, launched in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. In approximately 10,000 people gathered. Helene Coron, spokesman for the French contingent of the Global Sumud Flotilla, said to the crowd, “We’ll never stop!”
In Italy, the Prime Minister criticized protesters for vandalizing a statue of John Paul II in Rome. “They say they manifest for peace, but insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and peace builder,” he said. Among the protesters, 65 -year -old Retired Marta Carranza said: “Israel’s politics has been wrong for many years, and we have to go to the streets.”
In, the Government delegation recorded 92,000 participants. Student Marcos Pagadizabal, 19, said, “We are, those whose lives are not at risk, who we have to fight for those who are really suffering.” According to Spanish chancellor José Manuel Albares, about 50 Spaniards are among the members of the Flotilha detained in. Organizations that support the attitude ranked Israeli action as illegal, noting that the boats sailed in international waters. In Barcelona, Professor Jordi Bas said, “It’s the only thing that can give the Palestinian population a little mood, see that the whole world mobilizes in solidarity.”
In Ireland, protesters called for sanctions against Israel and the participation of the Palestinians in any ceasefire plan. Doctor John-Paul Murphy, 37, said: “Any plan prepared without the participation of the leadership or the affected population should be questioned.” In London, police recorded 355 arrests during a concentration in support of the forbidden group Palestinian action. Prime Minister Keir Strmer asked for cancellation of the protests this weekend after a bloody attack on a synagogue last Thursday.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Felipe Cerqueira
