Big Cities Around The World Holds Palestinian solidarity protests

Demonstration took place in London, in Melbourne and Paris while more are scheduled in other big cities, including New York and Berlin.

Pro-Palestine solidarity protests are being held around the world in a continuation of weeklong demonstrations, with protesters demanding their respective governments impose sanctions and a military embargo to cut the supply of weapons to Israel.

Protests against Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza killed nearly 250 Palestinians, including at least 65 children, leaving behind many buildings, homes and infrastructure destroyed in the besieged enclave.

The fighting that caused many palestinian solidarity protests came to an end after the Israeli government and Palestinian fighter groups agreed on a ceasefire that started on Friday.

The Sheikh Jarrah protests against forced expulsion of Palestinians by Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem, and the Israeli attack on Muslim worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, served as a catalyst for Israel’s attacks in Gaza.

Protests were held in London, Melbourne and Paris on Saturday, while more of them were scheduled for the weekend in other big cities, including New York and Berlin.

United Kingdom
At the protests in London, Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reported that there was a “sense of relief” with Israel’s attacks halting, but that more needed to be done.

“There is a sentiment that the conflict should not be forgotten,” he said.

Brennan said the protests was larger than a similar one held last week, with an estimated 30,000 people attending on Saturday.

Some were draped in Palestinian flags and set off green and red smoke flares. Others carried banners declaring “Free Palestine”, “Stop bombing Gaza” and “Sanctions on Israel”.

Australia
In Adelaide, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament House before marching through the city centre.

“We need to remember that just because they announced a ceasefire doesn’t mean it’s over. It will never be over until Palestine is free,” said Australian Palestinian community member Jana Fandi who attended the rally.

In Sydney, thousands of protesters gathered in Hyde Park before marching through the streets, chanting and waving banners.

“Palestinians continue to face violence from Israeli occupation forces and it’s not going to end until the occupation comes to an end,” Palestine Action Group activist Dalia al-Haj Qasem said.

France
A solidarity protest in the capital, Paris, was held with thousands attending the march.

Germany
Hundreds of people rallied in support of Palestinians in the German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin on Saturday.

In Berlin, hundreds of people rallied, many waving Palestine flags and carrying posters that read “Free Palestine,” according to a dpa reporter.

Many chanted, “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” at the event titled “The events in Palestine and the German media.”

Another banner, held by the Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East association, said, “Against attacks on synagogues and mosques in Berlin or Gaza.”

It was earlier reported that hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago Friday to support the Palestinian people and celebrate the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The group started gathering around 4:30 p.m. at Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells., just about 24 hours after fighting between Israel and Hamas ended.

The 11-day war left more than 250 dead — the vast majority Palestinians — and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. But the rocket barrages that brought life to a standstill in much of Israel were seen by many Palestinians as a bold response to perceived Israeli abuses in Jerusalem, the emotional heart of the conflict.