In Pics: Worldwide Protests against ’Israeli’ Aggression on Gaza
Local Editor
Some 500 people on Monday staged a silent protest in Tokyo against the "Israeli" aggression on Gaza, the biggest such gathering in the Japanese capital since the offensive began early this month, organizers said.
As night fell demonstrators holding candles formed huge letters spelling "Gaza" in a city park, and offered a one-minute prayer for victims of the "Israeli" massacres in the Palestinian territory.
Some waved Palestinian flags while others carried signs reading: "Stop the killing in Gaza. Japan cares."
"We want people in Gaza to know that they are not isolated from the world," said Sonoko Kawakami, one of the organizers.
He further stated: "Gaza is far from Japan, but we are going to continue to do whatever we can do here."
Leading members of the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish faiths delivered brief messages calling for an end to the violence.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held in recent weeks in cities across Europe, along with smaller protests in Asia.
French President Francois Hollande endorsed his government's ban on the protests, telling journalists "We can't allow the conflict to come to France."
However, French Arabs decried the ban as a violation of their freedom of speech. "We have a French government that is depriving a group of citizens of its democratic rights," a protest organizer said.
The largest protest in Europe drew 11,000 of people to the streets of Vienna, who marched across the city center to the official residence of the country's president.
"Israel's" ground offensive and the deaths of Gazan children have also inflamed public opinion globally, sparking demonstrations worldwide.
Thousands of people protested in London on Saturday, demanding an end to the violence.
In Amsterdam, some 3,000 participated in the march, demanding an immediate end to the "Israeli" military operation in Gaza. People carried signs reading "Stop the war" and ""Israel" war criminals." Just one person was detained for refusing to obey a police order, the Netherlands' NOS reported.
In Santiago, Chile, 5,000 protestors surrounded the "Israeli" embassy on Saturday to protest the invasion. Protestors glued photos of dead Gazan children to the building's walls, the news site said.
In the US massive pro-Palestinian protests were held on Sunday in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
Some 2,000 protesters took to the streets of Sydney in opposition to the "Israeli" invasion of Gaza. Parents took their children with them for the rally.
"I'm here as a mum to raise awareness of what's happening in Gaza," Buthania Saeed, 41, said. "All we're seeing is women and children being murdered, houses are being burnt down and families are being vanished."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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