Thousands rally worldwide on Gaza war anniversary for Palestine, Lebanon

Around the world, vigils, ceremonies, and protests marked the one-year anniversary of the Gaza war and the Hamas-led attack on Israel.

Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has resulted in widespread devastation in Gaza, causing significant loss of life and extensive infrastructure damage, while also intensifying broader tensions in the Middle East.

On the day of the attack, Hamas operatives reportedly killed around 1,200 people and took approximately 250 hostages to Gaza.

Palestinian health officials estimate that nearly 42,000 people have died in Gaza since the onset of the conflict, with the majority of the 2.3 million residents displaced.

In response to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and Lebanon, pro-Palestine demonstrations surged across Europe, Asia, and the Americas over the weekend.

Occupied Palestinian Territories

In the occupied Palestinian Territories, no formal events were planned in Gaza as Israeli forces continued air and ground offensives.

In Ramallah, the largest city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, dozens gathered to protest against the Israeli occupation, while the Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported that Israeli military forces arrested 45 individuals during raids across various West Bank locations.

Residents of Ramallah in the West Bank of Palestine, gathered to protest against the ongoing air-bombardment of Gaza, Lebanon and the town of Tulkarm. FPTV's @MomenSomrain was on location.
Filmed: 04/10/2024
Donate/Watch/Share elsewhere👇https://t.co/rRwSmsNvhq pic.twitter.com/Vpfdnx31gh

— Free Palestine TV (@TVFreePalestine) October 8, 2024

Israel

In Israel, ceremonies and protests began at 6:29 a.m., the time when Hamas launched rockets last year.

President Isaac Herzog joined families of those still held captive at the site of the Nova music festival, where many were killed or taken hostage.

However, tensions were evident at an alternative memorial event, the National Memorial Ceremony for Bereaved Families, where relatives of the victims expressed anger toward the Netanyahu government, demanding accountability for the attack.

United States

Vigils and protests were held across the US, including on university campuses such as Columbia University- a focal point of last year’s national student-led protests.

In New York, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched from Wall Street to Midtown.

In Washington, DC, demonstrators arranged pairs of shoes in front of The White House at Lafayette Square to symbolize children killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, pro-Palestinian activists protested outside the home of Congressman Greg Landsman, by pitching a pro-Palestine encampment to criticise his pro-Israel stance.

Protests in U.S. cities condemning the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.#UnitedStates #Gaza #Palestine #US #USA pic.twitter.com/6bpFN8SL9g

— Khaled Iskef خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) October 8, 2024

Canada

Protests unfolded in downtown Toronto with demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags and a smaller group of counterprotesters waving Israeli flags.

In a separate event, pro-Israel organisations across Toronto united for a community vigil held at the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s campus.

Turkey

In Turkey, protesters gathered in major cities to condemn Israel's actions in Gaza.

In Istanbul, crowds assembled in Üsküdar Square in solidarity with Palestine, as some carried posters in support of Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar and deceased Ismail Haniyah.

A "Call to Peace" gathering, led by Muslim clerics and representatives from 15 countries, took place in Taksim Square.

Later that evening, the Palestinian flag was projected onto the iconic Galata Tower to commemorate the lives lost over the past year. 

The famous Galata Tower in #Istanbul is decorated tonight with the colours of the #Palestinian flag to remember the thousands of victims of the #Israeli war in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/lKgJNjKn1y

— 🇹🇷 🇬🇧 Turkey Türkiye (@Anatolia_Today) October 8, 2024

The Netherlands

In Amsterdam, police arrested several pro-Palestine protesters amid continued targets throughout the demonstration. 

According to reports, officers were seen apprehending a middle-aged woman, forcibly escorting her into an armoured van. 

Separately, during one confrontation, filmed in a video circulating across social media, an activist threw red paint on the Israeli flag to protest against the genocide in Gaza.

Germany

In Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, German police deployed tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters on Sunday.  

Meanwhile, demonstrators also gathered at Kottbusser Tor square, holding banners with slogans such as "Stop arming Israel" and "End the genocide".

They also voiced their opposition to police violence during pro-Palestinian rallies over the past year. 

Meanwhile, in Frankfurt, a pro-Palestine protest attracted thousands on Monday after the city’s higher court overturned an official ban on the event.

Thousands of people swarmed downtown Frankfurt, Germany, today for one of Europe's largest pro-Palestine protests marking the anniversary of October 7.

Germany has emerged as the epicenter of pro-Palestine protests in Europe, with over 4,140 actions in one year. pic.twitter.com/0HaoRLSH8z

— red. (@redstreamnet) October 7, 2024

Britain

Pro-Palestine and smaller pro-Israel protests occurred in central London.

Two sets of demonstrations occurred in the capital: one organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups and a counter-protest coordinated by Stop the Hate.  

Amid these protests, police have arrested 17 individuals, including two on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation. 

Pro-Palestine students across the UK participated in walkouts and vigils as a new campaign was launched to encourage students to wear the keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian identity, for a week starting on Monday.

Other countries

Protests also took place in cities around the world, including New Delhi, Cape Town, Sydney, Rabat, Manila, and Jakarta, with demonstrators calling for an end to violence and US military support for Israel.

In northeastern Thailand, the Sriaoun family gathered in prayer for their son, believed to be held captive by Hamas.