PARIS: Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in cities worldwide on Sunday, marking the eve of the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that ignited the Gaza war. Protests spanned from Jakarta to Istanbul and Rabat, following similar demonstrations on Saturday in European capitals, Washington, and New York. In Jakarta, around 1,000 protesters gathered near the U.S. embassy, demanding a halt to U.S. arms supplies to Israel. In Sydney, thousands rallied, and in Rabat, demonstrators called for an end to Morocco’s diplomatic ties with Israel.
As protests unfolded, Israel intensified its bombardment of Hezbollah positions in Beirut, marking the heaviest strikes on the Lebanese capital since escalating its campaign against the group. Meanwhile, in Paris, the Jewish community commemorated the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in about 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza has led to nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and widespread destruction.
The ongoing violence has sparked some of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations globally in years, though concerns over rising antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric have also surfaced. While countries like the U.S. support Israel’s right to self-defense, Israel has faced international criticism over its actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that the military campaign is necessary to prevent future assaults like the Oct. 7 attack.
