GAZA: 365 days of genocide
Thousands around the world protest Middle East war
Published: 05:10 PM,Oct 06,2024 | EDITED : 10:10 PM,Oct 06,2024
People demonstrate during a protest to express support for Palestinians in Gaza, in Barcelona. — Reuters
PARIS/WASHINGTON: Thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities around the world demanding an end to bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East ahead of the first anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.
About 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London, while thousands gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town and New York City. Demonstrations were also held near the White House in Washington, protesting against US support for Israel in military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.
Protesters at New York's Times Square chanted slogans like: 'Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side.' They held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel.
The war in Gaza was triggered when Palestinians attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 as captives, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. It has laid waste to the enclave, displacing nearly all of the 2.3 million population and causing a hunger crisis.
In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Sunday morning near the US Embassy demanding that Washington stop supplying weapons to Israel.
In Rome, police fired tear gas and water cannons after clashes broke out. Around 6,000 protesters defied a ban to march in the city centre ahead of the October 7 anniversary. In Berlin, a protest drew about 1,000 demonstrators with Palestinian flags, who chanted: 'One Year of Genocide.' The war in Gaza has led to genocide allegations against Israel at the World Court.
German demonstrators also criticised what they called police violence against pro-Palestinian protesters. Israel supporters in Berlin protested against rising antisemitism. Scuffles broke out between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.
Over the past year, the scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza has drawn some of the biggest global demonstrations in years, including in the US, which saw weeks of pro-Palestinian college campus encampments.
The war in Gaza has spread through the region, drawing in groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Israel has sharply escalated a campaign in recent weeks in Lebanon. Iran launched a barrage of missiles against Israel this week to which Israel has not yet responded.
In Paris, Lebanese-French protestor Houssam Houssein said: 'We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen.' Houssein added: 'We really need to stop the war because it's now become unbearable.' In Manila, activists clashed with anti-riot police after they were blocked from holding a demonstration in front of the US Embassy in the Philippine capital against Washington's support for Israel.
Tens of thousands of Moroccans protested in Rabat on Sunday in support of Palestinians a day ahead of the October 7 attack anniversary. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags. 'We consider Palestine to be a national cause,' Khadija Mokhtari, a 56-year-old retiree living in the capital, said at the protest near parliament. She said she joined the protest to demonstrate against 'flagrant injustice, Israeli killings and the genocide' against Palestinians. Another protester, Noufissa Souad, 39, said: 'They are going to kill the entire Palestinian people for their land.'
The North African kingdom has officially called for 'the immediate, complete and permanent halt to the Israeli war on Gaza', but has not publicly discussed reversing normalisation. Sunday's rally was organised by the National Action Group for Palestine, which brings together leftist groups and the Islamist Justice and Development Party. — Agencies
As we mark 12 months into the Israeli genocide in Gaza, here are some key incidents that saw the expansion of the Israeli attacks to Lebanon, Syria and Iran.
The renewed conflict has raged for months and has seen an escalation between Israel and Iran and the most dangerous situation on the border with Lebanon for many years.
October 7: Hamas attacks southern Israel, including capturing of captives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that Israel is at war and orders air strikes on Gaza.
October 13: Israel tells residents of Gaza City to evacuate and move south. Israel Defence Force (IDF) troops move into the Gaza Strip.
October 17: An explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City triggers outrage in the Arab world. Israel launches ground assault and invades Gaza territory.
November 15: Israeli troops enter Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, in Gaza City, after a siege lasting several days during which medical staff say patients including newborn babies died from a lack of power and supplies. All hospitals serving the northern half of Gaza cease functioning.
November ceasefire: Israel and Hamas agree to pause fighting for four days to exchange women and child captives held in Gaza for Palestinian women and teenagers detained by Israel, and allow in more aid. The ceasefire was extended for a week in total and led to the freeing of 105 captives and about 240 Palestinians.
December 1: Israeli forces launch their first big ground assault on southern Gaza, on the outskirts of the city of Khan Yunis.
December 6: 22 members of the same family are killed in an Israeli air strike at the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
December 15: Three Israeli captives are killed by IDF troops. US launches air strike operation over Yemen. Continued attacks on Red Sea shipping during this time caused major concerns for international trade.
January 11: The US and UK launch dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation. Yemenis say five of their fighters have been killed in the initial strikes, and vow to continue their attacks on shipping.
January 22: 21 IDF soldiers are killed in central Gaza in a single incident - the deadliest day for Israel's forces.
The UN warns that a famine is imminent in northern Gaza and says 1.1 million people are starving.
April 1: Seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen are killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza. Israel strikes the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing Iranian officers including a top general.
April 13: Iran launches dozens of missiles and drones at Israel. Israel strikes several targets in Iran. Israeli strike on Rafah kills 45, leading to international outrage.
July 19: The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's settlement policy in occupied Palestinian territories is in breach of international law.
Hamas's top political leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in an apparent assassination in Iran at the end of July. Hamas says Haniyeh died in an air strike and blames Israel.
August 10: Dozens of people are killed in an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. No deal is agreed and the conflict continues.
A tentative agreement for brief ceasefires to conduct polio vaccination.
September 17: Mass explosion of handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon kills 12 people and injures nearly 3,000.
September 30: Israeli forces cross the border to conduct ground raids against Hezbollah.
October 1: Iran launches 200 missiles in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Hezbollah.
About 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London, while thousands gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town and New York City. Demonstrations were also held near the White House in Washington, protesting against US support for Israel in military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.
Protesters at New York's Times Square chanted slogans like: 'Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side.' They held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel.
The war in Gaza was triggered when Palestinians attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 as captives, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. It has laid waste to the enclave, displacing nearly all of the 2.3 million population and causing a hunger crisis.
In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, at least 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Sunday morning near the US Embassy demanding that Washington stop supplying weapons to Israel.
In Rome, police fired tear gas and water cannons after clashes broke out. Around 6,000 protesters defied a ban to march in the city centre ahead of the October 7 anniversary. In Berlin, a protest drew about 1,000 demonstrators with Palestinian flags, who chanted: 'One Year of Genocide.' The war in Gaza has led to genocide allegations against Israel at the World Court.
German demonstrators also criticised what they called police violence against pro-Palestinian protesters. Israel supporters in Berlin protested against rising antisemitism. Scuffles broke out between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.
Over the past year, the scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza has drawn some of the biggest global demonstrations in years, including in the US, which saw weeks of pro-Palestinian college campus encampments.
The war in Gaza has spread through the region, drawing in groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Israel has sharply escalated a campaign in recent weeks in Lebanon. Iran launched a barrage of missiles against Israel this week to which Israel has not yet responded.
In Paris, Lebanese-French protestor Houssam Houssein said: 'We fear a regional war, because there are tensions with Iran at the moment, and perhaps with Iraq and Yemen.' Houssein added: 'We really need to stop the war because it's now become unbearable.' In Manila, activists clashed with anti-riot police after they were blocked from holding a demonstration in front of the US Embassy in the Philippine capital against Washington's support for Israel.
Tens of thousands of Moroccans protested in Rabat on Sunday in support of Palestinians a day ahead of the October 7 attack anniversary. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags. 'We consider Palestine to be a national cause,' Khadija Mokhtari, a 56-year-old retiree living in the capital, said at the protest near parliament. She said she joined the protest to demonstrate against 'flagrant injustice, Israeli killings and the genocide' against Palestinians. Another protester, Noufissa Souad, 39, said: 'They are going to kill the entire Palestinian people for their land.'
The North African kingdom has officially called for 'the immediate, complete and permanent halt to the Israeli war on Gaza', but has not publicly discussed reversing normalisation. Sunday's rally was organised by the National Action Group for Palestine, which brings together leftist groups and the Islamist Justice and Development Party. — Agencies
As we mark 12 months into the Israeli genocide in Gaza, here are some key incidents that saw the expansion of the Israeli attacks to Lebanon, Syria and Iran.
The renewed conflict has raged for months and has seen an escalation between Israel and Iran and the most dangerous situation on the border with Lebanon for many years.
October 7: Hamas attacks southern Israel, including capturing of captives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that Israel is at war and orders air strikes on Gaza.
October 13: Israel tells residents of Gaza City to evacuate and move south. Israel Defence Force (IDF) troops move into the Gaza Strip.
October 17: An explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City triggers outrage in the Arab world. Israel launches ground assault and invades Gaza territory.
November 15: Israeli troops enter Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, in Gaza City, after a siege lasting several days during which medical staff say patients including newborn babies died from a lack of power and supplies. All hospitals serving the northern half of Gaza cease functioning.
November ceasefire: Israel and Hamas agree to pause fighting for four days to exchange women and child captives held in Gaza for Palestinian women and teenagers detained by Israel, and allow in more aid. The ceasefire was extended for a week in total and led to the freeing of 105 captives and about 240 Palestinians.
December 1: Israeli forces launch their first big ground assault on southern Gaza, on the outskirts of the city of Khan Yunis.
December 6: 22 members of the same family are killed in an Israeli air strike at the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
December 15: Three Israeli captives are killed by IDF troops. US launches air strike operation over Yemen. Continued attacks on Red Sea shipping during this time caused major concerns for international trade.
January 11: The US and UK launch dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation. Yemenis say five of their fighters have been killed in the initial strikes, and vow to continue their attacks on shipping.
January 22: 21 IDF soldiers are killed in central Gaza in a single incident - the deadliest day for Israel's forces.
The UN warns that a famine is imminent in northern Gaza and says 1.1 million people are starving.
April 1: Seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen are killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza. Israel strikes the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing Iranian officers including a top general.
April 13: Iran launches dozens of missiles and drones at Israel. Israel strikes several targets in Iran. Israeli strike on Rafah kills 45, leading to international outrage.
July 19: The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's settlement policy in occupied Palestinian territories is in breach of international law.
Hamas's top political leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in an apparent assassination in Iran at the end of July. Hamas says Haniyeh died in an air strike and blames Israel.
August 10: Dozens of people are killed in an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. No deal is agreed and the conflict continues.
A tentative agreement for brief ceasefires to conduct polio vaccination.
September 17: Mass explosion of handheld pagers used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon kills 12 people and injures nearly 3,000.
September 30: Israeli forces cross the border to conduct ground raids against Hezbollah.
October 1: Iran launches 200 missiles in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Hezbollah.