Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,000 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the territory’s health ministry and described as reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli military has now opened a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In France, home to the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe, protesters took to the streets in cities across the country, with demonstrations on Saturday in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Strasbourg to express solidarity with Palestinians, France 24 reported.
In Paris, Lebanese-French demonstrator Houssam Houssein warned that an escalation would engulf the entire Mideast. “We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen,” Houssein said. “We really need to stop the war because it’s now become unbearable.”
In Rome, clashes erupted between protesters and police at an unauthorized pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday after several thousand people gathered in the center of the Italian capital. Demonstrators wearing face coverings threw bottles, firecrackers and traffic signs at the security forces, who responded with the use of tear gas and water cannons, according to media reports.
Italian authorities had banned the demonstration due to security concerns. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stressed before the demonstration that the security authorities in Italy were on high alert due to the possibility of terrorist attacks before the anniversary.
About 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London.