Demonstrations in support of Palestinians trapped in Gaza amid the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hamas are nothing but “manifestations of anti-Semitism,” Alexander Ben Zvi, West Jerusalem’s ambassador to Moscow, told journalists on Monday.
Large pro-Palestinian rallies have regularly taken place around the world since Israel launched its military operation against Gaza in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7.
On Sunday, a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters marched on the home of US President Joe Biden, accusing him of supporting Palestinian “genocide.” As many as 300,000 people joined a march in support of Palestine in London on the same day.
“Those [demonstrations] are not pro-Muslim … but are specifically anti-Israeli, anti-Jewish,” Ben Zvi said, according to Russia’s RBK news outlet. “They are not just against Israel … it’s a new type of anti-Semitism.”
“And where will Israel be? … In the sea? This points to the destruction of the State of Israel,” he asked, referring to the slogan ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, which has become popular among pro-Palestinian protesters.
The ambassador warned that his nation would not go down without a fight and Jews “would no longer die in concentration camps … we will defend ourselves and our enemies will pay a heavy price.”
Around 1,200 Israelis – mostly civilians – were killed in the Hamas attack in early October. In response, West Jerusalem launched a massive bombing campaign against Gaza, followed by a ground operation, which has claimed more than 10,800 Palestinian lives so far, according to the World Health Organization.