Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators across major European cities protested the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with at least 29 people being arrested in London, England.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in cities across Europe rallied together and called for a cease fire, chanting, “Stop the massacre in Gaza” and “Cease fire now.”
As many as 9,900 people have been killed in the war on both sides, including at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and 35 Americans.
London, England
At least 29 demonstrators in London, England were arrested on Saturday afternoon, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
“Today, a total of 29 arrests have been made for offenses including inciting racial hatred and racially aggravated public order,” Metropolitan Police said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
London’s police said that two of the people were arrested for wording on a banner displayed during the protest. Another man was arrested for making antisemitic remarks during a speech, police said.
Police said that one person was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
London’s police shared an image of what appeared to be hundreds of protesters surrounding the city’s famous Trafalgar Square.
Social media footage from Trafalgar Square showed protesters throwing fireworks towards a police barricade, with red sparks from the fireworks shooting towards a gathering of the officers.
In a previous post, police said that they had arrested three in Piccadilly Circus, including one on a terrorism charge for displaying a placard that could incite hatred.
Berlin, Germany
In Berlin, around 1,000 police officers were deployed to ensure order after previous pro-Palestinian protests turned violent.
German news agency, DPA, reported that about 6,000 protesters marched through the center of the German capital.
Berlin police previously banned any kind of public or written statements that are antisemitic, anti-Israeli or glorify violence or terror.
Paris, France
In Paris, demonstrators gathered on Saturday calling for a ceasefire with signs reading “Stop the cycle of violence” and “To do nothing, to say nothing is to be complicit.”
Other demonstrators chanted, “Palestine will live, Palestine will win” and “Stop the massacre in Gaza.”
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin previously banned pro-Palestinian gatherings due to concerns about public disorder.
However, Paris’ police chief authorized the march from République to Nation, two large plazas in eastern Paris, but stipulated that any behavior deemed antisemitic or sympathetic to terrorism would not be tolerated.
Bucharest, Romania
Some of the protesters repeatedly yelled, “Free, free Palestine.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
