By Roger McKenzie
February 18, 2024
HUNDREDS of thousands took to the streets in a global day of action to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as the death toll mounted in the enclave due to the relentless Israeli assault on the Palestinians.
But the United States vowed to block the latest attempt this week to win agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations security council.
It is estimated that rallies were held in over 100 cities in 45 countries around the world.
In the Irish capital Dublin, tens of thousands of people made their voices heard as did thousands marching through the Spanish capital Madrid.
Several Italian cities reported large pro-Palestine protests including Turin, in northern Italy, and Verona, where the police cracked down on the protesters.
In the German city of Munich, where world leaders and ministers are attending the Munich Security Conference, protesters gathered near the main conference venue to call for a ceasefire.
Istanbul saw a massive march from Sultanahmet Square to Eminonu.
From the march. high school student Halegul Kurtas told the TRT news outlet: “Our presence here is to express our support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters, to make our stance clear, and to revive the dormant consciousness of humanity through this march.”
Police In New York cracked down on a large student-organised protest.
Social media videos and posts showed police protesters.
A large demonstration in Sydney, Australia, demanded an immediate ceasefire and the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid to the 2.3 million Palestinians besieged in Gaza.
There were also huge demonstrations across the Arab world.
For the second day in a row, millions of Yemenis marched in cities, towns and villages across the country to show their solidarity with the Palestinians.
About 120 protests were reported across towns and cities in Morocco.
The protests came as Algeria, the Arab representative on the UN security council, circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians.
But US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement late on Saturday that the draft resolution runs counter to Washington’s own efforts to end the fighting and “will not be adopted.”
The war has killed at least 28,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Some 1,200 were killed during the surprise Hamas raid on October 7, and about 250 taken hostage. 130 are still being held after scores were released during a ceasefire in November.
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