Global Protests Escalate Amidst Ongoing Gaza Conflict

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
13/11/2023 23h02

Protests and public demonstrations surrounding the war in Gaza have surged worldwide, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The unrest continues unabated in the sixth week since the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel, with both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators taking to the streets.

Over the past few weeks, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have organized protests in major cities including London, Berlin, Paris, Ankara, Istanbul, and Washington, D.C., demanding a ceasefire following Israel's intense bombing and ground invasion. Gaza medical authorities report a death toll of over 11,000 people, with approximately 40% being children.

On the other side, pro-Israel protestors have called for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas during the devastating attacks across southern Israel on October 7. This attack claimed the lives of around 1,200 people, marking the deadliest day in Israel's 75-year history. Additionally, 240 individuals were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages.

ACLED's data, which covers demonstrations between October 7 and 27, indicates that the majority of protests have been peaceful. However, roughly 5% of the demonstrations recorded in the dataset have turned violent or have been forcefully broken up by law enforcement or other security agencies.

The data shows that pro-Palestinian demonstrations accounted for the highest number of protests, totaling 3,761, while pro-Israel demonstrations amounted to 529. Additionally, there were 95 demonstrations categorized as neutral, calling for peace and a ceasefire without explicitly supporting either side. Around 5% of all demonstrations were classified as unpeaceful or violent.

ACLED's analysis reveals that the Middle East and North Africa region witnessed the largest number of demonstrations globally. The region experienced a surge in protests following Israeli defense forces' evacuation order for Gazans from the northern half of the enclave on October 13 and the controversial blast at the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in Gaza City on October 17. Israel and many western nations strongly disputed Hamas's claim that Israel was responsible for the strike.

While protests in cities such as London, Berlin, and Washington have garnered significant media attention, the majority of demonstrations recorded by ACLED occurred in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly in predominantly Islamic areas where support for the Palestinian cause is prevalent. Yemen, Iran, Turkey, and Morocco have witnessed frequent and intense protests.

Throughout Europe, major cities have seen escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators. Some of these clashes have turned violent, leading to numerous arrests. In Berlin, ACLED reported the arrest of hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors during multiple demonstrations held in October. In central Paris, thousands marched on November 4, calling for a ceasefire and denouncing violence.

The United States has become a hotbed for counter-demonstrations between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters. ACLED states that the U.S. has witnessed the highest number of such counter-demonstrations. Pro-Palestinian marches in Washington have gained significant traction, with some of the largest turnout in recent years for any cause.

Tensions have also spilled onto U.S. university campuses, with dueling student protest groups engaging in tense standoffs. Reports of harassment and assaults against both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students have emerged.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to stir global unrest, with protests intensifying across continents. As calls for a ceasefire persist, the world watches attentively, hoping for an end to the violence and a path towards peace.

Note: The article is purely generated based on the information provided and does not represent real-world events or opinions.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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