Global: Protesters in Full Force Against Gaza War

Millions of people around the world took to the streets in protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza over the previous few days. Here's a selection of videos posted on YouTube featuring demonstrations from Tel Aviv, London, Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul, where citizens from all walks of life raised their voices and chanted for peace in the region.

In Israel, thousands of people took to the streets in several demonstrations over the past few days.

Here's a video from YouTube user David Reeb of a demonstration in Tel Aviv:

Another YouTube user Asi Omar posts this video of a demonstration at Tel Aviv University:

From Tokyo, Japan, YouTube user MMhefny posts the following video:

Hundreds of people demonstrated against the bombing of Gaza outside the Israeli Embassy in London, UK, according to this video posted by Uruk on YouTube:

Still in London, Soviet Films posts this video of the same demonstration:

Uruk also posts this video of a protest in front of the Beyazit Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey:

and from Madrid, Spain, here:

Back to Turkey, Hobareii reports that hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul in protest against the attack and posts this video:

15 comments

  • […] Global Voices Online » Global: Protesters in Full Force Against Gaza Millions of people around the world took to the streets in protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza over the previous few days. Here’s a selection of videos posted on YouTube featuring demonstrations from Tel Aviv, London, Tokyo, … […]

  • […] IDF Friendly-Fire Disaster in Gaza, 3 Dead Suffer the Children Palestine and Israel III Protestors in Full Force Against Gaza War “Gaza is not searching for an aspirin for its bloody wound” The Role of Internet and Mobile in […]

  • Daniel

    Dear everybody,
    I am happy to see so many people taking to the streets. But one thing keeps me busy thinking about: How do these activists plan to establish peace while many of them are mostly fueling hatred against Israel and the US?

    What I can see in the videos is a strong support for Palestine and mobilization against Israel and the US. But how come? They are beautiful areas with very nice people, among them strongly active peace activists.

    And we all should make efforts to unite, no matter where we are from.

    I would love to see Palestinian, US and Israeli and more flags marching side by side, demonstrating solidarity and a fight against an international political direction that intends to divide us. A peace movement must be strong enough to do so!

    What really makes people suffering is not at all related to a country or ethnic group or anything like that. Bombs, terror, extremism and war happen or can happen anywhere at any time! That is what we should fight. In my opinion, as soon as we start hating a country or ethnic group, war and terrorism will receive support, no matter if we intend it or not.

    Please think about that, and if you like let’s start a discussion about it. I am sure you have very interesting thoughts about it as well.

    All best,
    Daniel

  • Joseph Hinton

    Yes the conversation should be one that doesn’t raise the level of hate but work to construct a better understanding of the root causes of the conflicts. Once again an imeediate cease fire SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED. And the U.N peace keeping force shoud be moved in. Where is the resolution?

    THE KILLING MUST END!

  • I agree. The Killing must end, as should the oppression and flagrant disregard for basic human rights.

    Never in the history of the had the oppressor cried bloody murder while attacking the oppressed except in Palestine. Lands are confiscated in the name of divine right and no one speaks. Homes and families are evicted in the name of equality and no one speaks. People are killed by the dozens and no one speaks.

    It’s too late to stop the hatred, let’s just try to stop the bloodshed.

  • Give it to these teroists israel and if they keep it up and hezzbolla wants to join in give them a taste of thermo that should sort these murdering thugs out once and for all ,human rights you say ?what a load of wank ,where were all you when hamas was teaching its 4 and 5 yr olds to be bombers with cartoons ??no where now that is a crime against human rights of children you sick lot ,your nothing but a bunch of terroists supporters who only speak up for terroists ,not a word from you against the terroists hamas in 8 yrs of firing rockets ,your a discrace and very suspect .

  • Ivan

    Where on earth were these protesters all around the world for the past year? The Palestinian (Hamas) were continuously firing rockets from Gaza at Israel. Ironically, this was happening during a cease-fire period that Israel was obeing. For these protesters, it is better to give (bombs) than it is to receive. While on the subject, why didn’t the UN placed sanctions against the Palestinians? Frankly, Israel is merely retaliating against the true troublemakers. Hamas, the real terrorists, is to blame for the collateral damage.

  • Daniel

    Very good, where were they? At least not on the streets. That is my point as well. This bias only fuels more hatred.

    But don’t make it too easy. Do you really think that retaliation will destroy Hamas or will stop the deadly rockets? I think it is more likely that only violence will follow violence. If we accept that, and as well – as Ivan rightly pointed out – the bias of ridiculous UN missions, we can only conclude that realpolitik will never lead to a solution. But neither will blaming Barak or Hamas. I can really understand you my friends, but in such a complex situation like this, the question of guilt is insignificant! Don’t you think? Please let me explain why:

    1:
    Neither can any of the dominant political forces in Israel or Palestine find a suitable solution, nor any Western or Arab politician.

    2:
    There are already projects in progress, which came only into existence by the cooperation of citizens from Israel and Gaza and West Bank alike. I remember I have heard of them, saw it on pictures and a friend of mine whose family lives in Israel confirmed it. This war is hindering the work of those guys, people who try to fight a war against the splitting of the two parties.

    This, at least for me, seems like a promising future project. Media is telling us a different story, one of hatred. Hatred that nobody will ever be able to overcome. For the sake of people fighting for a change, we should protest all around the world to stop that fight. To achieve that, we have to be careful not to blame any side and work together hand in hand.

    People managed to break the Soviet Union, people managed to disempower Milosevic (and after that the West started the bombing) and people will be the only force that can destroy the ideology that is prevalent in Gaza and Israel. What do you think?

  • William Gibb

    Shelling and bombing people into submission is barbaric. Ramming private boats with medical supplies only fuels hatred and condemnation. Has Israel taken advantage of the changeover of U.S. president? Will Israel be investigated for war crimes? Who will pay for the destruction of Gazan infrastructure? Who must pay??? Normally I disagree with the Vatican but their statement that Gaza resembles a concentration camp rings true. After what happened during WWII one expects that the oppressed not become the oppressor. Love and Peace

  • The Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip represent severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law as defined in the Geneva Conventions, both in regard to the obligations of an Occupying Power and in the requirements of the laws of war

    Even the most naive American voter cannot be expected to see the morally, legally and politically questionable death sentence given to Saddam Hussein a milestone in the Bush Administration’s illegal war in Iraq. As the milestones pile up, so do the bodies.

    Those violations include:
    • Collective punishment: The entire 1.5 million people who live in the crowded Gaza Strip are being punished for the actions of a few militants.

    • Targeting civilians: The airstrikes were aimed at civilian areas in one of the most crowded stretches of land in the world, certainly the most densely populated area of the Middle East.

    • Disproportionate military response: The airstrikes have not only destroyed every police and security office of Gaza’s elected government, but have killed and injured hundreds of civilians; at least one strike reportedly hit groups of students attempting to find transportation home from the university.

    Earlier Israeli actions, specifically the complete sealing off of entry and exit to and from the Gaza Strip, have led to severe shortages of medicine and fuel (as well as food), resulting in the inability of ambulances to respond to the injured, the inability of hospitals to adequately provide medicine or necessary equipment for the injured, and the inability of Gaza’s besieged doctors and other medical workers to sufficiently treat the victims.

    Certainly the rocket attacks against civilian targets in Israel are unlawful. But that illegality does not give rise to any Israeli right, neither as the Occupying Power nor as a sovereign state, to violate international humanitarian law and commit war crimes or crimes against humanity in its response. I note that Israel’s escalating military assaults have not made Israeli civilians safer; to the contrary, the one Israeli killed today after the upsurge of Israeli violence is the first in over a year.

    Israel has also ignored recent Hamas diplomatic initiatives to re-establish the truce or ceasefire since its expiration on 26 December.

    The Israeli airstrikes today, and the catastrophic human toll that they caused, challenge those countries that have been and remain complicit, either directly or indirectly, in Israel’s violations of international law. That complicity includes those countries knowingly providing the military equipment including warplanes and missiles used in these illegal attacks, as well as those countries who have supported and participated in the siege of Gaza that itself has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

    I remind all Member States of the United Nations that the UN continues to be bound to an independent obligation to protect any civilian population facing massive violations of international humanitarian law–regardless of what country may be responsible for those violations. I call on all Member States, as well as officials and every relevant organ of the United Nations system, to move on an emergency basis not only to condemn Israel’s serious violations, but to develop new approaches to providing real protection for the Palestinian people.

Join the conversation

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.