Fiery protests amid peaceful gatherings in many countries
In Washington, a man tried to set himself on fire in a demonstration outside the White House.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in cities around the world at the weekend calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon as the war in the Palestinian territory neared the one-year mark.
In Washington, more than 1000 protesters demonstrated outside the White House, demanding that the US, Israel’s top military supplier, stop providing weapons and aid to Israel.
One man tried to set himself on fire, succeeding only in lighting his left arm ablaze before bystanders and police extinguished the flames.
Huge rallies were held in several European cities overnight on Saturday, with gatherings expected to continue into Sunday and peak on Monday, the date of the anniversary.
In Rome, several thousands demonstrated peacefully on Saturday afternoon until a smaller group tried to push the rally towards the centre of the city, in spite of a ban by local authorities who refused to authorise protests, citing security concerns.
Some protesters, dressed in black and with their faces covered, threw stones, bottles and paper bombs at the police, who responded with teargas and water cannons, eventually dispersing the crowd.
At least 30 officers and three demonstrators were injured in the clashes, local media reported.
In London, thousands marched through the capital to Downing Street amid a heavy police presence. The atmosphere was tense as pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-demonstrators, some holding Israeli flags, passed one another. Scuffles broke out as police officers pushed back activists trying to get past a cordon. At least 17 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, supporting a proscribed organisation and assault, Metropolitan Police said.
In the northern German city of Hamburg, about 950 people staged a peaceful demonstration with many waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags or chanting “Stop the Genocide”, the DPA news agency reported, citing a count by police.
Two smaller pro-Israeli counter-demonstrations took place without incident, it said.
Several thousands protesters gathered peacefully at Paris’s Republique Plaza in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Many were waving Palestinian flags while holding posters reading “Stop the genocide,” “Free Palestine,” and “Hands off Lebanon”.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also gathered at New York’s Times Square to call for a ceasefire, chanting “Gaza!” to a drumbeat. Some wore keffiyeh scarfs, waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and held a large cardboard image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with red paint symbolizing blood across his face.
Rallies were planned in several other cities in the US as well as in other parts of the world, including Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa and India.
In The Philippines, dozens of left-wing activists protested near the US embassy in Manila, where police prevented them from getting closer to the seaside compound.
AFP, AP
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