Crowds across Europe, North Africa, and Asia gather for pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests, marking the first anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israel.
On Sunday, crowds participated in pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests across Europe, North Africa, and Asia. This took place on the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which happened on October 7, 2023. Many people attended memorial events and rallies, showing support for their causes.
Protests and Memorials
Events began on Saturday in major European cities like London, Berlin, Paris, and Rome. More gatherings were planned throughout the week, with a peak expected on Monday, the anniversary date.
In Berlin, hundreds of pro-Israeli supporters marched near the famous Brandenburg Gate. They held a large banner that read “Against all antisemitism.”
Many waved Israeli flags as they walked down Unter den Linden. Some Jewish leaders led the crowd in singing about “shalom,” which means peace. Marchers shouted phrases like “Free Gaza from Hamas!” and “Bring them home!” This last phrase refers to over 100 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
In Paris, thousands attended a memorial event for Jewish victims of the October 7 attack. The event featured speakers and artists honoring those who lost their lives.
Ayelet Samerano, the mother of Jonathan Samerano, spoke about her son, who was shot and kidnapped during the attack. She said, “We are a united people. Together we are strong… no enemy will bring us down. With this unity and strength, we will bring our loved ones home.”
[Ayelet Samerano, mother of hostage Jonathan, spoke at a memorial in Paris on October 6, 2024. She paid tribute to the victims of the October 7 attack by Hamas, while an UNRWA employee took Jonathan's body to Gaza. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP]
In London, many gathered in Hyde Park for a similar memorial. The crowd chanted “Bring them home” and waved Israeli flags. They also held placards showing the faces of hostages still with Hamas.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council organized the London event, with help from the Israeli embassy.
Henry Grunwald, chair of the organizing committee, said, “Today’s event is for one purpose only: it is a memorial. We want to remember the people who have been brutally murdered, and we want the world to remember.”
Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily is one of the hostages taken by Hamas, shared her pain. She said her daughter was “full of life.” At the memorial, she expressed her frustration, saying, “One year has passed, and she is still in hell. How is it she is still in prison?”
British Jewish actress Tracy-Ann Oberman attended the London event and spoke about the importance of remembering. She said, “We must not forget our humanity.” Another attendee, 53-year-old Mabel Russell, added that it was “important to be here, to remember those who are no longer here. We will remember always.”
Another participant named Sharon, who chose not to give her last name, mentioned that she prays for the hostages every day. However, she was against a ceasefire in Gaza. She said, “We cannot bow down to tyranny. If there’s a ceasefire, things are never going to change.”
Other rallies took place in Manchester and Leeds on the same day.
Background on the Attack
On October 7, 2023, at 6:30 a.m. Israel time, Hamas launched an operation called "Al Aqsa Flood" against Israel. They fired nearly 6,000 rockets from Gaza toward Israeli targets, including populated areas and major cities like Tel Aviv and Ashkelon.
[This photo released by the Israeli military shows ground operations inside Gaza, November 2, 2023. AP Photo]
The surprise attack, coordinated by Hamas and several Palestinian armed groups, resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. More than 6,000 armed Palestinians crossed Gaza's borders, attacking villages and settlements in Israel. They used various tactics, including pick-ups, motorbikes, speedboats, and paragliders.
One of the first targets was an open-air music festival near the kibbutz of Re’im. During the attack, Hamas and its allies committed many crimes against Israeli civilians, including sexual assaults. This invasion marked the first time since 1948 that Israeli territory was breached, shocking both Israel and the world.
Military experts noted that the attack involved complex tactics and caught Israeli security off guard. Many wondered how Israeli intelligence did not anticipate this preparation from Hamas.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) response was slow and chaotic, leading to criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for failing to manage national security effectively.
Israeli Military Response
In response to the attacks, Netanyahu’s government felt it had to act strongly. The goal was to hit back hard in Gaza, especially since Hamas receives support from Iran, Israel’s main enemy.
On the same day as the attack, the Israeli cabinet ordered military action, starting Operation Swords of Iron. This operation began with air strikes, leading to a planned ground assault on October 27.
Israeli military authorities instructed over one million Palestinians to leave Gaza. However, many had nowhere to go after the border with Egypt was closed, forcing them to remain in Gaza.
On May 20 of this year, the International Criminal Court started proceedings to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
The court also announced the prosecution of senior Hamas figures, including Yahya Sinwar, Mahamed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran on July 31.
International Recognition of Palestine
On the diplomatic side, calls for the creation of a Palestinian state have increased. Even though the two-state solution is currently stalled, countries like Ireland, Spain, and Norway formally recognized Palestine as an independent state in May. Slovenia joined them later that month, with the backing of EU Council president Charles Michel.
Ongoing Conflict with Hezbollah
The conflict is not limited to Gaza. The Lebanese group Hezbollah, which supports Hamas, has demanded that Israel withdraw from the area near the Rafah border crossing. In exchange, Hezbollah promised to stop daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces. Israel rejected this offer.
The Philadelphi Corridor, which connects the conflict in Gaza to rising tensions in Lebanon, has become a crucial point. Since the war in Gaza started, Israel has faced increased hostility along its northern border with Lebanon. Both sides have exchanged fire nearly every day since October last year, and recent weeks have seen even more intense clashes.
On September 30, Israel launched a targeted ground operation in Lebanese territory to eliminate Hezbollah fighters and positions.
[Flames and smoke rise from an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut, October 7, 2024. AP Photo]
Casualties and Destruction
The year-long conflict has taken a heavy toll. More than 600 members of Israel’s security forces have died in the fighting in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed. However, this number does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
[A woman in Tel Aviv wears a blindfold during a protest on September 4, 2024, calling for a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. AP Photo]
Gaza has been devastated by the war. Much of the area is in ruins, and those still living there face starvation and illness. Despite the ongoing efforts, the goal of eradicating Hamas has not been achieved.
Israeli figures show that 117 hostages have been released, but most were swapped for Palestinian prisoners during a temporary truce in November rather than freed through military action.
As the anniversary of the October 7 attack approaches, the impact of the conflict is still felt deeply. Protests and memorials reflect the ongoing struggles of people on both sides, as they seek peace and justice in a deeply divided region.
The events over the weekend highlight the continuing importance of these issues, as communities come together to remember and stand in solidarity with those affected by the violence.