In cities around the world yesterday, tens of thousands marched to end the violence in Gaza.
Al Jazeera is calling it a "World 'day of rage'".
From London to Paris, and from Tehran to Cape Town, demonstrators gathered on Saturday to denounce the Israeli operation, while calling for an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the Guardian
In London a peaceful protest was organised by the Stop The War coalition. According to police, more than 20,000 people marched from the BBC's offices on Portland Place, via the US embassy to Hyde Park.
According to the
Independent, organizers put the number at closer to 150,000.
Demonstrations were also held in Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin, where, according to the Guardian, several hundred people demonstrated for the fifth Saturday in a row.
Cape Town saw possibly the largest demonstration in the city's history. Crowd estimates vary from 40,000 to 100,000.
In Cape Town on Saturday, the rally featured posters and balloons in the colours of the Palestinian flag, and T-shirts representing various NGOs, political movements and ideologies. Also on display was a large banner bearing the names of Palestinian children killed.
A groups of Jews who joined the march carried placards reading “Jewish not Zionist”.
Zandie Sherman told Weekend Argus she was Jewish, but did not support Israel.
“Not all Jews are Zionists. Some of us are scared to speak out because we are bullied, shamed or ostracised by our families if we speak against Israel,” she said.
“There are many Jews around the world that do not support Israel, and what it does to Palestinians. Israel believes that all Jews support it. But this violence won’t be done on behalf of me.”
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu spoke at the march, saying:
"The pursuit of the people of Palestine for freedom, for freedom from humiliation, from persecution, from the unjust policies of Israel - that is something that is unstoppable, because it is a righteous cause."
He made sure to emphasize:
“We are lovers of justice. We are lovers of freedom… Tell the world: ‘I oppose injustice. I am not anti-Jewish’.”
“We were against injustice, oppression… everything that is evil. We did not become anti-white… I ask one thing: their struggle must be a just struggle. But it must not be that you say we are against Jews. We have Jews here who support our struggle.”
An estimated 5,000 marched through the streets of Santiago,
Chile, calling for the country to sever ties with Israel.
The Malay Mail Online is reporting that 150 Israelis defied police to march.
More than 150 Israelis protested in Tel Aviv yesterday against a Gaza war entering its second month, in defiance of a police ban on the assembly that cited military restrictions on public gatherings in cities within range of rocket fire.
In
Tehran, Iran, doctors and other healthcare providers
gathered to denounce the bloodshed.
During their rally in central Tehran on Saturday, the protesters chanted slogans against Israel and the United States while condemning Israel's crimes in Gaza and denouncing “arrogant powers’ financial and media support” for the Tel Aviv regime.
A number of physicians voiced readiness to travel to the Gaza Strip to provide treatment to the Gazans injured in the ongoing war.
The protesters also held placards urging physicians across the globe, especially in Muslim countries, to help the war-stricken people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
(Yeah, I know, PressTV is not the greatest source in the world but getting information out of Iran isn't exactly easy).
And, in NYC, approximately 500 people marched to the UN. As the conflict continues, I fully expect these numbers to grow larger.
In other news, the Guardian is reporting:
Hamas threatens major escalation in rocket strikes on Israel
Officials in Gaza say fighting will continue unless demands for lifting of blockade and prisoner release are met
snip
The Palestinian negotiating team in Cairo, which includes members of all the main factions, has demanded the lifting of an eight-year-old Israeli-Egyptian blockade and the release of about 100 prisoners held by Israel. Israel insists that Hamas disarm; officials from the Palestinian group say this is "inconceivable".
Support for Hamas in Gaza still appeared to be strong. "Of course, people are supporting the resistance," said Marwan Saifan, 37, as he watched the rubble of the destroyed mosque in Nuseirat being cleared. "They are defending the people. They are fighting for our rights. Every house has lost a son, or a cousin, and that means more support for the resistance."
Congrats, Israel. You have quite effectively turned Hamas into defenders of the people and yourself into something the world is increasingly viewing as cruel, entitled and monstrous.
8:56 AM PT: Flyswatterbanjo has kindly added links to protests in other countries around the globe including Australia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Jordon, Spain and Thailand.