topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2108.35 -0.25
DAX 6326.06 0.16
IBEX 30 6485.1 -0.75
CAC 40 3029.87 -0.28
FTSE 100 5331.91 -0.34
AEX 291.71 -0.13
DJIA 12529.75 0.27
Nasdaq 2839.38 -0.38
FTSE MIB 13056.54 -0.39
TSX Composite 11566.07 0.01
ASX 4081.2 -0.61
Hang seng 18713.41 0.25
Straits Times 2772.75 -0.24
ISEQ 20 494.34 0.21
You are here: Home News Belgian News Major cities stage fresh protests over Gaza

Belgian News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


12/01/2009Major cities stage fresh protests over Gaza

Thousands of students, trade unionists and politicians marched through the centre of Madrid to denounce the Israeli action in Gaza and call for peace.

MADRID -- Cities around the world staged fresh protests Sunday both in support of and opposed to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week.

Thousands of students, trade unionists and politicians marched through the centre of Madrid to denounce the Israeli action in Gaza and call for peace.

Protesters marched between the Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta del Sol, brandishing placards that read "Stop the genocide in Palestine" and "We are all Palestinians."

Some members of the crowd wore Palestinian flags to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza, where almost 900 people have been killed since the Israeli offensive began 16 days ago.

In Brussels, Muslim associations, centre-left politicians and pressure groups began their own rally to call for a halt to the conflict. Organisers said they estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 people would attend.

Around 4,000 people marched through the western Austrian town of Bregenz, despite the extremely cold weather, organisers said. The demonstrators, including families with children, waved Turkish, Palestinian and Arab flags, played music and carried signs with slogans like "Let Gaza live." Some wore T-shirts that said "We are all Palestinian."

Jewish groups across Europe also held rallies in support of Israel and denouncing Hamas. Thousands of British Jews rallied in central London to call for peace for the citizens of both Israel and Gaza.

Waving Israeli and British flags and carrying placards reading "End Hamas terror! Peace for the people of Israel and Gaza", demonstrators prayed for peace as speakers demanded Hamas stop firing rockets at Israeli civilians.

Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and lawmakers addressed the demonstrators, who chanted: "Yes to peace".

Police estimated the crowd at the demonstration in Trafalgar Square at 4,000, but organisers claimed the turnout was closer to 20,000.

Counter-demonstrators lining the side of the square chanted throughout the rally, waving placards reading "We are all Hamas. Boycott Israel," "Israeli terrorist cowards" and "End the siege -- talk to Hamas."

The hour-long rally ended with the singing of the British and Israeli national anthems. Similar pro-Israeli demonstrations were also held in the German cities of Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, with authorities saying altogether 2,000 people took part.

Charlotte Knobloch, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told crowds in Munich that "the sole responsibility of the death of civilians on both sides lay with Hamas."

Police in Marseille, southern France, said around 4,000 people marched through the city in support of Israel's right to self defence.

Outside of Europe, pro-Palestinian rallies were also held across Asia earlier Sunday.

In Hong Kong, more than 1,000 students and ethnic minorities took part in a protest organised on social networking website Facebook.

The group, holding placards and banners, marched from Victoria Park to the US consulate general demanding the United States stop supporting Israel's offensive on Gaza.

In Indonesia, 20,000 Muslims staged a peaceful rally Sunday in the capital of Jakarta. Protesters from the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) gathered at the national monument in Jakarta and marched through the streets.

On Saturday, the two biggest pro-Palestinian protests took place in London and Paris, which turned violent as the day wore on.

In London, angry demonstrators hurled sticks and stones at police outside the Israeli embassy as officers in riot gear and on horseback charged the crowd to keep them away from the building in the upmarket Kensington district.

In Paris, protesters smashed shop windows in central Paris and threw bottles at riot police, who fired tear gas in response.

Israel's offensive on Gaza continued Sunday as planes carried out more air strikes, while troops clashed with Hamas fighters despite international calls for a ceasefire as the death toll neared 900.

[AFP/Expatica]


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Community Noticeboard Belgium

Holiday appartment for rent @Côte d´Azur (French Riviera)

American in Belgium

BUY NOVELTY DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD, PASSPORT

Discuss Belgian Culture

BUY NOVELTY DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD, PASSPORT

Belgian News

BUY NOVELTY DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD, PASSPORT

Community Noticeboard Belgium

BUY NOVELTY DRIVING LICENSE,ID CARD, PASSPORT

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Looking for work in Belgium

Looking for work in Belgium

This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes how to write a CV, application procedure, interview dos and don'ts, Belgian management culture.

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Practical, easy-to-use, free and... in English

Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Finding a rental home in Belgium

Moving to Belgium presents a host of challenges to expats, not least of all finding the right home.

Learning to cope with life abroad

Learning to cope with life abroad

The psychological effects of global mobility can be physically painful.