On October 6, 2024, tens of thousands of people rallied worldwide demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, coinciding with the first anniversary of the war between Israel and Hamas. Pro-Palestinian supporters took to the streets in cities across all five continents to call for an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths.
Commemorative vigils were held on the anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which left 1,205 Israelis dead and 251 hostages (97 of whom are still captive), triggering the ongoing conflict.
In Berlin, over a thousand demonstrators marched in solidarity with Palestinians, many wearing kufiyas, the traditional scarf symbolizing Palestinian resistance. Protesters chanted “Gaza, you are not alone” and carried banners reading “Nothing justifies genocide” and “Free Gaza.” Concurrently, a pro-Israel demonstration near the Brandenburg Gate attracted around 500 participants, many waving Israeli flags and holding photos of hostages taken by Hamas. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked in a video message that peace or reconciliation in the Middle East seems further away than ever.
Thousands also gathered in London for an event organized by the Board of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council in collaboration with the Israeli embassy, holding Israeli flags and banners stating “bring them home” alongside images of hostages. In Paris, under the slogan “I stand,” thousands of all ages showed support for Israel and the victims of the October 7 attack.
In Washington, a man claiming to be a journalist attempted self-immolation during a march of over a thousand people in front of the White House, demanding an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. The protest was largest in New York, where thousands gathered in Times Square, some holding photos of deceased Gazans.
In Sydney, hundreds congregated in Hyde Park with Palestinian and Lebanese flags, carrying a banner that read “Stop arming Israel.” This week, Israel launched a ground incursion into Lebanon and vowed to respond to recent missile attacks from Iran, raising fears of an expanded conflict in the region.
In Madrid, a pro-Palestinian demonstration drew around 5,000 participants, with slogans like “Boycott Israel” and “Humanity died in Gaza,” urging Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.
In Caracas, hundreds of supporters of President Nicolás Maduro and members of the Arab community protested outside the UN headquarters, waving a 25-meter Palestinian flag and demanding an end to the “genocide” of the Palestinian people.
In Rabat, Morocco, tens of thousands gathered to express support for the Palestinian people and call for a break in relations with Israel. In Jakarta, Indonesia, thousands rallied outside the U.S. embassy, urging their government to reject any normalization of relations with Israel, chanting “We are all Palestinians.”
In South Africa, hundreds protested in Cape Town, waving Palestinian flags and calling Israel a “racist state,” with many supporting South Africa's complaint to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, which Pretoria claims violate the 1948 UN genocide convention.