Thousands marched in cities across Europe, condemning Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and demanding tough global action against continued and deadly violations of the United States-brokered ceasefire.
The demonstrations were held on Saturday to mark the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as the death toll in Israel’s war on Gaza passed 70,000.
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The latest victims include two boys aged eight and 10, who were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the town of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
In the French capital, Paris, an estimated 50,000 people chanted “Gaza, Gaza, Paris is with you” and “From Paris to Gaza, resistance!” Marched on the main streets of the city raising slogans.
They also waved Palestinian flags condemning “Israeli genocide”.
“This is not acceptable. We are still very far from justice or accountability,” one protester told Al Jazeera.
“We, the people, know that it (Israel’s war) is wrong. But why don’t the people in power think it’s wrong?” asked another protester.
Anne Touillon, head of the France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS), one of about 80 NGOs, unions and parties behind the call for protests, said “nothing has been resolved” seven weeks after the ceasefire took effect on 10 October.
“The ceasefire is a sham. Israel violates it every day, blocking humanitarian aid and continuing to destroy homes and infrastructure in Gaza. We are calling for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the genocide,” he told news agency AFP.
Protests also took place in London, Geneva, Rome and Lisbon.
Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego, reporting from Paris, said that for organizers, the march represents “continued pressure” on Israel at a time when talks for a more lasting peace in the Palestinian territory are stalled.
“This worldwide mobilization is focusing not only on Gaza, but also on the broader unresolved issue of Palestinian rights.”
In the British capital, London, organizers said 100,000 people joined a march demanding accountability for Israeli “crimes” against Palestinians and the “protection” of those still suffering under the siege despite a ceasefire.
In Italy, where there have been repeated mass demonstrations and union-led strikes against Israel’s war, Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, and climate activist Greta Thunberg attended the main demonstration in the capital Rome.
The Wanted in Rome news website said in a report ahead of the rally that about 100,000 people were expected to attend.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Albanese said Israel is “committing genocide against Palestinians” not only in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank.
He wrote, “Look at the totality of the conduct/crimes against the totality of Palestinians in the totality of the land designated for ethnic cleansing. Israel must be stopped, and we will.”
Under a US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has returned to the so-called “yellow line” inside the Gaza Strip. But it remains in control of more than half of the encircled area and has carried out several deadly attacks in violation of the agreement.
Since the ceasefire agreement, at least 500 Israeli violations have been recorded, resulting in at least 347 Palestinians killed and 889 injured.
Fadi and Juma Tamer Abu Assi were eight and 10 years old respectively.
Alaa Abu Assi, the uncle of the two boys, said they were “innocent children who had no rockets or bombs”.
“They were collecting firewood to help their disabled father, who has platinum plates in his legs. We went and found them in pieces, and we brought them back,” he told AFP news agency.
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that “the killing of so many civilians, the repeated displacement of entire populations and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance must never be acceptable”.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Gaza City, said that even though Palestinians welcome international support, most people are “just trying to survive”.
“It’s a daily struggle,” she said. “Palestinians are suffering to get their basic needs; they are suffering to get shelter.”
He said, “A lot of Palestinians are still living in tents. They are saying that they have no source of shelter. There is no medicine. Their children are without any education. Despite the ceasefire, Palestinians are still dying slowly.”
On Thursday, rights group Amnesty International warned that despite the declared ceasefire, “Israeli authorities are still carrying out massacres” in Gaza, carrying out new attacks and restricting vital aid access.
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