IRIA News

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Hundreds of thousands of people marched across Europe over the weekend to protest Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Demonstrations were held in major cities including London, Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Istanbul, where protesters demanded an end to what they described as “genocide” in the Palestinian territory.

In London, police arrested at least 442 people during a large pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were made after protesters defied requests to postpone the event following a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue two days earlier. The demonstration proceeded despite official warnings that it would strain security resources.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for calm, urging people “to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.” In a post on X, he wrote: “This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain. It is a time to stand together.”

Protests across Spain and Italy

In Spain, tens of thousands gathered in Barcelona and Madrid in demonstrations planned weeks in advance. Barcelona’s city hall estimated 70,000 people joined Saturday’s protest, filling the Passeig de Gracia boulevard with Palestinian flags, banners, and chants of “Stop the genocide.”

More than 40 Spaniards, including a former Barcelona mayor, were among 450 activists detained earlier in the week by Israeli forces after the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian aid convoy, was intercepted en route to Gaza. The flotilla had set sail from Barcelona carrying food and medicine for civilians in the blockaded enclave.

Spain has witnessed a sharp rise in pro-Palestinian activism as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez intensifies diplomatic efforts against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Last month, protesters disrupted stages of the Vuelta cycling race to protest the participation of an Israeli-owned team. Sánchez has repeatedly referred to Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and urged international sporting bodies to suspend Israeli participation.

In Italy, Friday’s one-day general strike in solidarity with Gaza brought out more than two million people across the country. On Saturday, another demonstration in Rome, organized by Palestinian groups, trade unions, and student organizations, drew tens of thousands marching from Porta San Paolo to San Giovanni Square, according to Italian broadcaster Rai.

Large Turnout in Amsterdam

The largest single demonstration in Western Europe took place Sunday in Amsterdam, where an estimated 250,000 people filled Museum Square before marching through the city center. Most protesters dressed in red to symbolize the bloodshed in Gaza, while others carried Palestinian flags and peace signs.

The march came less than a month before the Netherlands’ national elections, intensifying political pressure on the government. Foreign Minister David van Weel said Friday that it was “unlikely” the Netherlands would approve export licenses for F-35 fighter jet parts destined for Israel.

The Amnesty International’s spokesperson Marjon Rozema called for the use of “all economic and diplomatic means to increase pressure on Israel.”

Smaller demonstrations were held in Lisbon and Athens, where crowds gathered to mark the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the current conflict. Greek authorities expect larger protests on Sunday to coincide with a pro-Israel rally in the capital.

In Dublin, Ireland, thousands joined a march calling on the government to impose sanctions on Israel. Sixteen Irish citizens were among those detained by Israel during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Protests also took place in Bulgaria and Morocco. In Sofia, marchers carried signs reading “Gaza: Starvation is a Weapon of War” and “Gaza is the Biggest Graveyard of Children.” Demonstrators in Rabat burned an Israeli flag and demanded the release of Moroccan activist Aziz Ghali, one of the flotilla passengers detained by Israeli authorities.

While London saw mass arrests, other gatherings across the UK took on a more somber tone. In Manchester, hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to mourn victims of Thursday’s synagogue attack and to mark two years since Hamas’ initial assault on Israel. Participants waved British and Israeli flags and carried banners honoring the victims.

In Paris, hundreds joined a pro-Israel rally calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Demonstrators marched through the city center chanting “Free the hostages,” as French authorities estimated that about 20 captives remain alive in Gaza.

Rallies in Turkey

In Turkey, massive crowds took to the streets of Istanbul and Ankara in one of the largest regional shows of solidarity with Palestinians. In Istanbul, demonstrators marched from the Hagia Sophia Mosque to the banks of the Golden Horn, where boats flying Turkish and Palestinian flags greeted them.

“This oppression, which began in 1948, has been continuing for two years, turning into genocide,” said Recep Karabal of the Palestine Support Platform in the city of Kirikkale.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations, has accused Tel Aviv of committing war crimes. Support for Palestinians remains widespread across Turkey, where protests were also held in Ankara, Konya, and Gaziantep.

İstanbul’da Gazze’ye destek eylemi#Istanbul is in solidarity with #Palestine, against Israeli genocide and occupation in #Gaza.

Diğer taraftan Gazze’deki soykırıma tepki ve Gazze’ye giden filolara destek amacıyla Eminönü Meydanı’nda aralıksız oturma eylemi devam ediyor pic.twitter.com/gOYVx4PPw6

— Nevzat Çiçek (@nevzatcicek) October 5, 2025

Israeli Strikes in Gaza Despite Calls for Ceasefire

The weekend’s protests underscore growing global anger over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with the enclave facing widespread famine and infrastructure collapse.

Hamas announced this week that it had accepted “some elements” of a ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Still, fighting continues as Israel maintains its blockade and air campaign.

Dozens of people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Saturday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel to halt its bombing campaign following Hamas’ announcement that it was ready to release hostages under his proposed peace plan.

Local health officials said at least 36 people were killed in bombardments across the enclave, including 18 in a single strike on a residential building in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood. Several nearby houses were also damaged. The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas militant who posed a threat to its forces, adding that it “regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians.”

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” inside Gaza and that a ceasefire would take effect “immediately” once Hamas confirmed its acceptance. He warned that delays would not be tolerated and urged the group to “get this done, fast.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that discussions were underway on implementing the first stage of Trump’s plan, which involves the release of hostages and a partial redeployment of Israeli forces. However, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would “continue to hold all of the controlling areas deep inside the Strip” until Hamas disarms.

New Round of Ceasefire Talks

Ceasefire talks are expected to begin in Egypt next week, with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff joining delegations from Israel and Hamas. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said negotiations would focus on finalizing details for a hostage exchange and setting conditions for a lasting truce.

Hamas said Israel’s continued strikes “expose Netanyahu’s lies” about scaling back operations, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller allied faction, voiced support for Hamas’ response to Trump’s proposal.

Trump’s plan envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal and Gaza’s eventual demilitarization. He said hostages would be freed in the first phase, with further negotiations determining the timeline for Israel’s full pullback. Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure from hostage families and opposition figures to end the war, though hardline members of his coalition insist on continuing the offensive.

Israel began its campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed around 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the conflict began.