Large pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests and memorial events were held today across Europe, North Africa and Asia ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
Today's events come a day after demonstrations took place on Saturday in several European cities, including London, Berlin, Paris and Rome. Other events are scheduled during Sunday, and most of them on Monday, the day of the anniversary itself.
At the march in Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate, hundreds of pro-Israel demonstrators carried a banner reading "Against all anti-Semitism." Many carried Israeli flags and chanted "Free Gaza from Hamas!" and "Bring them home," referring to the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
Thousands of people gathered in Paris for a memorial event where speakers and artists paid tribute to those killed in the October 7 attack and expressed solidarity with those still in captivity.
In London, thousands of people gathered in Hyde Park for a memorial event. The crowd chanted "Bring them back home" and waved Israeli flags and placards with photographs of hostages still held by Hamas.
On the other hand, massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held from Pakistan to Morocco.
In the Moroccan capital, Rabat, thousands of people demonstrated outside parliament and called on the government to scrap the 2020 agreement normalizing relations with Israel.
The protest in Rabat was among the largest in recent months. The Moroccan government has spoken out against the war in Gaza, but has preserved its ties with Israel.
In the Pakistani city of Karachi, a massive pro-Palestinian rally was organized by the country's largest religious political party, Jamat-e-Islami. Its leader, Hafiz Naim Ur Rehman, said that "this protest should tell the US that it supports terrorists."
Earlier today in Australia, thousands of people rallied in support of the Palestinians and Lebanon. A pro-Israel rally was also held in Melbourne.
Pope Francis, during Sunday prayers in the Vatican, made a new appeal for peace "on all fronts". The Pope also urged his audience not to forget the many hostages still being held in Gaza, asking for "their immediate liberation".
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