Massive Pro-Palestine Demonstrations Sweep London and European Cities

Thousands of children joined a pro-Palestinian march in central London on Saturday, as part of a global day of action against the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians. The focus of the march was on the plight of children in the Gaza Strip, who have been heavily affected by the war between Israel and Hamas. Little Amal, a 3.5-meter puppet initially created to raise awareness about the suffering of Syrian refugees, made an appearance at the march, symbolizing the suffering of Palestinian children.

Little Amal had previously traveled 8,000 kilometers from the Turkish-Syrian border to Manchester in July 2001, becoming a human rights symbol along the way. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has reported that nearly two-thirds of the 23,843 people killed during Israel’s campaign in Gaza have been women and children.

Israel declared war in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 250 hostages. This attack was the deadliest in Israel’s history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.

The organizers of the march had announced that Palestinian children would be accompanying Little Amal through the streets of central London. Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director of The Walk Productions, stated that the march aimed to highlight the bravery and resilience of vulnerable children, as childhood itself is being targeted in Gaza.

Around 1,700 police officers, including many from outside London, were deployed to ensure order and safety during the protest. Home Secretary James Cleverly expressed his support for the police’s efforts to manage the protest and crack down on any criminal activities.

Several conditions were imposed for the march, including a directive that no participant should approach the Israeli Embassy. A pro-Israel rally was scheduled to take place in London the following day.

Similar marches were also held in other European cities, including Paris, Rome, Milan, and Dublin. In Dublin, thousands of protesters marched through the city’s main thoroughfare to condemn Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, held critical placards, and chanted slogans calling for a free Palestine.

In Rome, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the Colosseum, carrying signs that read “Stop Genocide.” One protester waved the flag of South Africa, a nation that accused Israel of genocide, prompting the International Court of Justice to take up the case.

In Paris, hundreds of protesters gathered in Republic Square, calling for an immediate cease-fire, an end to the war, a lifting of the blockade on Gaza, and sanctions on Israel. Demonstrators marched with Palestinian flags and held banners reading “From Gaza to Paris. Resistance.”