International Protests against Israel’s War on Gaza
Israel’s most recent attack on Gaza has taken a shocking toll on the Palestinian people. With the ongoing blockade and Israel’s repressive occupation, Gaza was already the largest ‘open air’ prison on the globe. With this current wave of Israeli aggression, as many as 1,886 have been killed, including 432 children; and 9,806 injured, including 2,979 children. More than 70 per cent of deaths, says the UN, have been those of civilian. Hospitals, schools, homes, and even UN relief have been targeted. Civilian life and daily needs, including electricity, water supply and medical resources, have been ravaged. And the residents of Gaza have been trapped with no exit route.
Photo by Anna Ferensowicz, http://fsrn.org/?attachment_id=2958
But the Palestinians, whether in the occupied territories or in Israel, have continued to resist.
Thousands of Palestinians demonstrate in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, Nablus, July 24, 2014. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org) http://972mag.com/photos-ten-killed-across-west-bank-in-gaza-solidarity-protests/94420/
Palestinian protester argues with an Israeli soldier during a protest against the Israeli air strikes in Gaza strip, at Hawara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus. Abed Omar Qusini/REUTERS
Around the world, there has been a wave of protest against Israel. From North and South America to Europe to Africa to West, South and Southeast Asia, people have taken to the streets in protest.
La Paz, Bolivia (photo: Gaston Brito/Reuters)
Algiers, Algeria (photo: Islamic-News)
People in every continent in the world, urban and rural, and of every community, including anti-Zionist Jews, have expressed their solidarity with the brave and suffering men, women and children of Gaza. Many protests have specifically endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
Some of the many Jews who marched on the Stop the Gaza Massacre demonstration in London, 26/07/14
Source: Stop the War Coalition, www.stopwar.org
Montreal #DayofRage (photo: Scott Weinstein)
Zagreb, Croatia (photo: citizenside.com)
Tokyo (photo: Labornet Japan)
Chicago (photo: Danielle Villareal)
Washington DC (photo: @MikePrysner)
Derry, Ireland (photo: DerryNow)
Bangladesh (photo: AP)
Sana’a, Yemen (photo: Moragboon Press)
Peru (photo: Integración Estudiantil/MOVILIZACIÓN POR UNA PALESTINA LIBRE)
Egypt (photo: global.revsoc.me)
Nigeria (photo: ABNA.ir)
Lebanon (photo:AP)
The UK saw the biggest demonstration for Gaza. On 9 August, 150,000 marched from BBC Broadcasting House to Hyde Park, passing the US Embassy on the way.
In South America, in addition to people’s actions of solidarity with Gaza, governments and leaders took a bold stand against Israel. Bolivian President Evo Morales, for instance, declared Israel a “terrorist state”, revoking a 1972 Israeli-Bolivian visa agreement in reponse to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Valparaiso, Chile
Perhaps South Africa, with its special bond with Palestine – both the experience of apartheid as well as the boycott movement – had one of the most powerful expression of international solidarity with Gaza. Over a hundred thousand people filled the streets of Cape Town in a march described as the biggest since Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
South Africans march in solidarity with Gaza, in Cape Town, South Africa, on August 9, 2014. Some contend that this was the biggest protest in South African history, with estimates ranging from 10,000s to 100,000
(photo: Che Erasmus Nche/Eras Media Productions) http://972mag.com/apartheids-legacy-lives-on-south-africans-polarized-over-israel/95402/
In India, there were different sorts of protests by different groups across the country – from Mumbai, Kashmir, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Srinagar and Bangalore to Gulbarga, Mysore, Coonoor and Puttur.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims Protest Israel Attack In Gaza Strip http://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/bhopal-gas-tragedy-victims-taking-part-in-silent-protest-news-photo/452064322
Activists from different student unions shout slogans during a protest outside the Israeli embassy, in New Delhi. The protest was against the Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)
And in the Indian capital, New Delhi, seventy groups assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against Israel's genocide of the people in Gaza on August 9. Political leaders, students, artists and other citizens spoke, sang, painted, and acted out plays.
A performance on the plight of Gaza residents by Jana Natya Manch.
They supported the call given by the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement to observe today as a ‘Day of Rage’ against Israel. They also condemned the Indian government’s military, trade, educational and cultural ties with Israel.
CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury seaks at the Day of Rage in New Delhi www.twocircles.net
They said: “On this day, the seventy-second anniversary of the Quit India movement, we demand of Israel: Quit Palestine!... It is shameful that India has abandoned its longstanding commitment to uphold Palestine’s right to self-determination and to resist Israel’s colonisation, a right that it once claimed for itself as a colonised nation.
https://www.facebook.com/PalSolComIndia
On August 9, Indians of conscience expressed their solidarity with Gaza by calling on the Indian government to
1. Immediately and unequivocally condemn Israel’s war on Gaza.
2. Raise its voice in the world arena and at international forums in support of Palestine’s demands including, immediately, lifting of all blockades on the Gaza Strip and indefinite extension of the ceasefire.
3. Boycott all forms of direct and indirect collaboration with the Israeli state and Israeli corporations.
4. End its military ties with Israel, as India’s huge arms purchases help to subsidise Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
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