TEHRAN – Global protests erupted after Israel’s intercept against the global Smood fleet, a convoy carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The crowd gathered to protest the Israeli Navy blockade of more than 40 ships, with around 500 people, including prominent figures such as climate activist Greta Sánberg and various politicians. The fleet was about to reach Gaza. There, the United Nations reported hunger after two years of Israel’s continued military operations were called genocide.
By Friday morning, Israeli forces had completely dismantled their fleet and raided and seized Marinette, a Polish messed-up vessel with six crew members. Livestream footage showed soldiers boarding the ship and restraining the ship. In total, hundreds of activists from dozens of boats have been arrested.
Palestinian supporters gather during a protest at Parliament Square in Westminster, London. (Photo by Kin Cheung/AP)
In Italy, people took them to the streets on Friday as part of a day’s general strike strike called by the union to support the aid fleet. The CGIL Trade Union held demonstrations in over 100 cities. In Rome, crowds marched from central Vittorio towards the main train station, waving unions and Palestinian flags and raising flags. Several reports suggest that over a million people attended the rally.
In Barcelona on Thursday, demonstrators marched in chanting slogans such as “Gaza, you are not alone”, “Boycott Israel”, and “Palestinian Freedom.” Spanish television showed that riot police forced repel protesters who tried to violate the barrier. Former Barcelona mayor Ada Kollow is one of the activists intercepted at the sea.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators march during a rally supporting Gaza through downtown Chicago, Illinois. (Octavio Jones/AFP)
In Dublin, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Irish Parliament. There, Palestinian solidarity is often associated with the historical struggle against British colonialism. Miriam McNally, whose daughter joined the fleet, told AFP: “I’m worried about my daughter, but I’m very proud of her and what she’s doing. She’s standing up for humanity in the face of serious danger.”
In France, protesters gathered in Paris at Des La Republique, but in Marseille, they were arrested in Marseille after attempting to block access to Eurolinks, an arms maker accused of selling military parts to Israel.
In London, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Central Region on Thursday to support global SUMUD Flotilla activists. The crowd raised the Palestinian flag, chanting slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and expressed solidarity with the detained, saying “I am accomplice to Israel’s actions in Gaza,” and criticised the British government.
In Brussels, around 3,000 people gathered outside the European Parliament, urging the EU to “break the siege” amid smoke bombs and explosives. Pro-Palestin demonstrations have also exploded in Berlin, The Hague, Tunis, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Istanbul, Chicago, Tripoli, Kuala Lumpur, Caracas and other cities around the world, reflecting global solidarity that denies Gaza and Israel’s interception.