Gaza Invasion Draws Massive Protests Around the World

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in London to protest against Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza on Saturday. Reports of violent assaults, anti-Semitism, and destruction have marked the worldwide protests as Israel launched a ground invasion of Gaza on Thursday.

The London rally went from the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street across town to Kensington where the Israeli consulate is located.

London right now. Impressive! (Photo Daniel Kocian)

This was the latest and one of the more peaceful demonstrations as rallies take place across the globe in recent days. In Turkey, both Ankara and Istanbul hosted massive demonstrations on Friday that required the mobilization of Turkish police.

As Reuters reported:

Early on Friday, Turkish riot police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters outside the Israeli mission in Istanbul, but did not intervene in Ankara, where windows of the ambassador's residence were smashed, local media reported.

"Die out murderer Jew" had been scrawled on the wall across from the consulate in Istanbul.

Following the demonstration, Israel announced it would reduce its diplomatic staff and blamed Turkish officials and security services for incitement as well as breaching diplomatic regulations.

Protests continued this week across the United States and Canada in addition to European capitals, Middle Eastern cities, and into Asia. According to a American Jewish Committee police report protestors reportedly chanted "Jews, Jews, cowardly pigs, come out and fight!" at an anti-Israel rally in Berlin on Thursday.

Earlier today, a teenage demonstrator was killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir after being shot during clashes with Indian forces.

Troops opened fire after the protesters clashed with security forces in Khudwani, a village south of Srinagar, the main city in Indian Kashmir, a police officer said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

Police did not give the boy's age, but residents said he was 15 or 16.

While many of the protests have been held without incident, violence remains a hallmark of some of the protests. As Adiv Sternman noted:

The danger of uncontrolled demonstrations was made clear last week in Paris, when violent protesters trapped Jews inside a synagogue and chanted such slogans as “Hitler was right” and “Death to Jews.”

French President Francois Hollande banned future protests following the incident, but today there are reports of clashes between protestors defying the ban and riot police across Paris.

Source: Yahoo News

Violent demonstrations in Paris

"Pro Palestinians Clash at Paris Gaza rally. Large crowds of protesters in Paris clash with police at a banned pro-Palestinian rally against Israeli military action in Gaza. Clashes as pro-Palestine protesters march in Paris. In Paris, despite a police ban and warnings from President François Hollande, ... A pro-Palestinian protester throws a projectile to police during a [clash with the CRS, the security police] ... Spontaneous clashes or eruptions of violence cannot be ruled out". PARIS — Police have clashed with thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters who defied a ban in Paris on marching to protest the Israeli [attack on Gaza]."

Source: Youtube.fr