Protests erupted across numerous cities on Thursday morning following the unlawful interception of aid ships headed for Gaza by Israeli authorities, which resulted in the detention of activists involved in the humanitarian initiative. Demonstrations have been reported in major cities around the globe, including Athens, Rome, Berlin, Brussels, and Tunis.
In Turkey, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul to protest against Israel’s actions regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla. In Italy, unions organized a general strike for Friday in solidarity with the aid flotilla, while protests emerged in various cities late Wednesday.
In Naples, demonstrators occupied the main railway station, effectively halting train service, while in Rome, police surrounded the Termini railway station as protesters congregated at the entrances.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has urged its supporters to “escalate peaceful disruptive action” in response to the attack on the flotilla, which comprised nearly 497 members from over 46 countries.
In Barcelona, several hundred rallied outside the Israeli consulate to condemn the interception and show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Similar gatherings occurred in Berlin, where dozens assembled at Central Station, and in Brussels, where protesters marched from Place de la Bourse to the Belgian Foreign Ministry.
Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla reported that the Israeli navy engaged in “active aggression” against their vessels en route to Gaza, with claims that one of their boats was deliberately rammed at sea. They reported that other ships, including the Yulara and Meteque, faced water cannon assaults. The flotilla characterized the incident as “illegal attacks” conducted in international waters.
Tags: Israel, Gaza, aid flotilla, protests, unlawful interception
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