TEHRAN – Iran and Gaza have taken to the streets for the past few days since October 2023 to condemn the Israeli regime’s unidentified attacks.
After destroying key parts of the besieged Gaza Strip over the past 20 months and causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, Israel moved its gear towards Iran and launched a war against the country on June 13, 2025.
On the last day of June, protesters in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America are sought peace, justice and humanitarian aid, calling for the regime to end the violence that escalates before more innocent lives are taken.
Cross-border solidarity between Asia and Africa
In Asia, solidarity was evident in several countries. On June 25th, former South Korean presidential candidate Kwon Young-Gook gathered in front of the US embassy in Seoul to criticize the United States for increasing tensions.
In Sydney, Australian and Iranian activists protested against our and Israel’s actions on June 28th, demonstrating cross-cultural unity.
In Morocco, thousands of people marched in cities such as Casablanca, Tangier and Tetouan on June 28th, organised by the Moroccan Commission to support the country’s causes. They condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, called for urgent humanitarian assistance and chanted slogans supporting Palestine.
Symbolic action against European popular mobilization
Europe has become the focus of diverse demonstrations. In Germany, the Berlin police arrested a peaceful pro-Gaza protester on June 28, urging concerns about freedom of expression. In France, Bethanson mayor Anne Vigott raised the Palestinian flag above the town hall on June 28th, symbolizing solidarity with Gaza. In Brussels, a man climbed up the foothold, raised the Palestinian flag, chanting justice and cheered the crowd. Stockholm held a march on June 28th, while Rotterdam saw an anti-Zionist demonstration on June 27th. The “Palestinian Music” event in Copenhagen, held on June 29th, used culture to express solidarity. In Vienna, thousands, including anti-Zionist Jewish groups, denounced Israeli attacks on June 28 in support of Iran and Palestine. The UK’s Glastonbury Festival, held on June 28th, became controversial when punk duo Bob Villain led chants for “Free Palestine” and “Death to IDF” and accused the organizers and the BBC of crossing the line.
Support for North and Latin America
North America also saw serious protests. On June 27, hundreds of New York City people took part in a global movement against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Mexico City held a Palestinian solidarity rally on the same day, reflecting Latin American support for its cause.
National conflict and religious opposition
Several incidents highlighted the intensity of global sentiment. On June 27 in Hamburg, activists confronted Mayor Peter Zenschel and accused him of supporting genocide in Gaza after defending Israel’s actions on a podcast.
Anti-Zionist Jewish groups, especially Neturei Karta, expressed support for Iran on June 29, arguing that Zionism was a political movement that hijacked Judaism and that establishing a Jewish state before the arrival of the Messiah is prohibited by Jewish law. The Glastonbury case highlighted the role of cultural platforms, and Bob Bilan’s chant sparked debate about freedom of speech and media responsibility.
Changes in public opinion worldwide
The surge in global protests in late June 2025 reveals a deep shift in public awareness about the ongoing crisis regarding Gaza and Israel’s military action against Iran.
Far from the response of isolated states, demonstrations represent a transnational convergence of humanitarian concerns, political perceptions and civil resistance. It is geographically, demographic and ideologically its diversity that distinguishes this wave of objections. From Seoul to Sydney, Casablanca, Copenhagen, Berlin and Mexico City, citizens not only condemned war crimes and civilian casualties, but also took them to the streets to challenge what many perceive as Western double standards in foreign policy and media coverage.
This global response also highlights the inability of governments and mainstream agencies to curb or suppress public criticism through censorship, arrests, or selective narratives. The arrest of peaceful protesters in Berlin and the resentment against the artists at the Glastonbury Festival in Britain show a heightened tension between official positions and public sentiment. At the same time, the active involvement of anti-Zionist Jewish groups complicates simple binaries and reconstructs conflict as one of political ideologies and universal human rights.
Furthermore, the use of cultural platforms, such as musical events, public art and grassroots mobilization, shows that traditional politics is no longer the only area of protest. Expressions of solidarity are deeply embedded in civil society and are often led by alienation or intercultural alliances that transcend boundaries and religious disparities.
Essentially, these protests point to a broader demand for not only rejection of specific military action, but also for a reassessment of international accomplices in accountability, justice, and long-term human suffering.