Israeli Gaza offensive inspires global rallies, Paris protest turns violent
Hundreds of protesters looted shops, burnt cars and attacked a synagogue, as an unauthorized anti-Israeli rally turned violent in a Parisian suburb. Simultaneously, thousands participated in peaceful pro-Palestinian marches across the globe.
Despite a ban by authorities, an anti-Israel demonstration was
held on Sunday in a Parisian suburb of Sarcelles, dubbed ‘Little
Jerusalem’ for its large community of Sephardic Jews. It was the
second in a row unauthorized protest in the French capital to
turn violent over the weekend.
On Saturday, activists clashed with police during
pro-Palestinian rally in the center of Paris (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Several hundred people gathered for protest in Sarcelles by 3pm local time, with dozens of youths then setting cars on fire, smashing shop windows and raiding the shops, throwing stones at police. Protesters shouted: "F*** Israel!" and “Israel assassin.”
A #Sarcelles actuellement. Condamnation ferme de ces violences ! pic.twitter.com/6rfw4P0yii
— Arash Derambarsh (@Arash) July 20, 2014
A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a synagogue, Le Figaro reports.
The police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and detaining
at least 13 rioters, according to the Local.
The decision to ban pro-Palestinian protests in Paris raised controversy as the rallies happened anyway and turned violent. France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended the decision not to allow protests, saying the unrest that broke out "justifies all the more the brave choice by the interior ministry to ban a demonstration," AFP reported.
Elsewhere in Europe pro-Palestinian protests appeared to be
relatively peaceful.
The largest one in Europe drew 11,000 of people to the streets of
Vienna, who marched across the city center to the official
residence of the country’s president.
Thousands
take to the streets of Vienna in Gaza protest (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
In Amsterdam, some 3,000 participated in the march, demanding an
immediate end to the Israeli military operation in Gaza. People
carried signs reading "Stop the war" and "Israel war
criminals." Just one person was detained for refusing to
obey a police order, the Netherlands’ NOS reported.
"It just has to stop. Children are being killed and they are
innocent," said protester Ekrem Kara, as cited by AFP.
Amsterdam today protesting against Israel's horrific massacre in Gaza! #BDS#GazaUnderAttack#Genocidepic.twitter.com/IN1JQvqRjB
— Delic #BDS (@HamdoDelic) July 20, 2014
A similar rally in Stockholm gathered 1,000 participants.
In the US massive pro-Palestinian protests were held on Sunday in
Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
Thousands marched to the Israeli Consulate in Chicago, home to a
quarter million Palestinians, demanding a halt to Israel’s
military action in Gaza.
In response, the consulate general released a statement defending
the military operation.
“Today is a tragic day,” the statement reads as cited by
WGN_TV. “13 Israeli soldiers were killed by the terrorist
organization Hamas. We regret the loss of civilians on both
sides. Hamas continues to brutally attack 6 million Israeli
citizens and puts its own population in danger. We have to stop
it.”
Some 2,000 protesters took to the streets of Sydney in opposition
to the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. Parents took their
children with them for the rally.
“I'm here as a mum to raise awareness of what's happening in
Gaza,” Buthania Saeed, 41, told AAP. “All we're seeing
is women and children being murdered, houses are being burnt down
and families are being vanished.”
Hundreds of mainly Islamist Jordanian protesters burnt Israeli
flags in Amman on Sunday, Reuters reports. Demonstrators called
on Palestinian Hamas militants to step up rocket attacks against
Israeli towns and cities to avenge civilian deaths caused by
Israel's offensive in Gaza.
Lebanese activists staged a protest outside the US embassy in
Awkar north of Beirut on Sunday. The rally participants burned
the American and Israeli flags, while chanting slogans in support
of the Palestinians, the Daily Star reports.
