### Global Protests Erupt Over Gaza Conflict as Anniversary Approaches

Thousands of protesters rallied in multiple major cities around the globe, voicing their demand for an end to the violence in Gaza. The conflict marked its imminent first anniversary, drawing attention to the broader regional tensions it has incited.

In London, an estimated 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the city center. Similar protests took place in Paris, Rome, Manila, and Cape Town, each gathering thousands of participants. The unrest was ignited by a deadly attack carried out by the militant Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and saw around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli reports.

The subsequent Israeli retaliatory strikes on Gaza have led to the deaths of nearly 42,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza's health ministry, and have displaced almost the entire population of the 2.3 million residents in the enclave. Agnes Kory, a London protester, expressed her frustration: "Unfortunately, in spite of all our goodwill, the Israeli government does not take any notice, and they just go ahead and continue their atrocities in Gaza, now also in Lebanon and in Yemen, and also probably in Iran."

In Rome, tensions escalated as police used tear gas and water cannons on about 6,000 defiant protesters who marched in the city center, despite a ban. The German capital of Berlin saw around 1,000 demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and chanting "One Year of Genocide," a term heavily contested by Israel, which maintains it is acting in self-defense.

The protests in Berlin also highlighted allegations of police violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators, while pro-Israel supporters condemned the rise in antisemitism, arguing that the growing anti-Israel sentiment questions the nation's right to exist.

The conflict has drawn in various Iran-backed groups from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, with a notable escalation involving Israeli strikes against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and a barrage of missiles from Iran targeting Israel.

Lebanese-French protester Houssam Houssein, who attended the Paris march, voiced concerns over the potential for a wider regional war, noting the ongoing tensions with Iran and other countries like Iraq and Yemen. "We really need to stop the war because it's now become unbearable," he urged.

International efforts, primarily led by the United States, to broker a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. While Hamas demands an end to the war, Israel insists that the conflict will only cease once Hamas is completely eradicated.

Protests also erupted in Manila, where activists clashed with anti-riot police near the U.S. embassy, condemning the United States for supplying arms to Israel. More demonstrations are expected in cities across the world, including the United States and Chile, with some rallies planned in support of Israel as well.