People worldwide stand with Gaza, decry unfolding genocide
4 Min Read
In the first pro-Palestine demonstrations of the year, millions are marching to decry the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
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Protesters hold up banners, flags, and placards as they walk along the Embankment by the River Thames during a demonstration in support of Palestine and Gaza in London, on January 13, 2024. (AP)
More than 200,000 Pro-Palestinian protesters have started marching through London for the first major demonstration of 2024, The Daily Mail reported.
Activists waving Palestine flags, chanting "Free Free Palestine," and lighting flares converged on Queen Victoria Street for a planned march toward Parliament Square as they continue to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
All roads completely full as far as you can see. Massive turnout in London for Palestine and against British bombing of Yemen. #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 #CeasefireNow #HandsOffYemen pic.twitter.com/l8MooOVyCV
— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) January 13, 2024
The demonstrations come in the wake of the US-UK aggression on Yemen and in solidarity with the Gazan people who are subjected to genocide by "Israel".
Some activists wearing masks of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were seen holding bloodied dolls up in the air in a bid to highlight the innocent lives being lost in the Middle East war.
Proud to be marching in solidarity with Palestine today in central London.
— Fiona Edwards (@Fio_edwards) January 13, 2024
Stop the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. End the siege, end the occupation!
Viva Palestina 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WdI9R6jzOi
South Africa saw similar protests on Saturday after South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola declared on Friday that "Israel" failed to disprove the accusations of genocide presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the South African government.
On the first day of hearings, Thursday, Justice Minister Lamola argued that the violence and destruction in Palestine had roots beyond the October 7 events, pointing to 76 years of systematic oppression and violence experienced by Palestinians.
South Africa STANDS with Palestine! 🇿🇦 🇵🇸
— Rev Laskaris (@REVMAXXING) January 13, 2024
pic.twitter.com/WKkOr88Hiw
Newstalk reported that in Ireland, a protest was organized by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and sponsored by over 70 Irish civil society organizations.
Protesters showed their solidarity with victims in Gaza and denounced the Irish government for not backing South Africa's legal fight against "Israel".
Magic. Dublin is with Gaza. Ireland is with Palestine. pic.twitter.com/ibTcU0zYH8
— Tony - Pod Guy - Groves (@Trickstersworld) January 13, 2024
Indonesians took to the streets to demonstrate their solidarity with the victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza. Protesters held banners decrying the genocide and demanding a ceasefire be implemented now.
🇮🇩🇵🇸 INDONESIA stands with PALESTINE! pic.twitter.com/oGRNa9cs8b
— The Saviour (@stairwayto3dom) January 13, 2024
In Australia, thousands of protesters marched in the streets of Sydney, where Irish flags were waved along with Palestinian ones.
Irish flags in Sydney march in solidarity with Palestine pic.twitter.com/GbzspRppz7
— Motherland (@Motherl28134473) January 13, 2024
South Korea too saw a demonstration on Saturday in protest of the Israeli genocide. Protesters marched in the streets waving Palestinian flags and holding banners in solidarity with Palestinians.
🔴 Demonstration in South Korea to stop Israel's genocidal war against Gaza pic.twitter.com/h8cdVUzsEV
— Palestine 𝕏com (@PalestineXcom) January 13, 2024
On Friday night, protesters in the US marched in New York in solidarity with Palestine. First Avenue, near the headquarters of the UN, was blocked for a short period by protesters.
Demonstrators held banners calling for the end of US aid to "Israel."
A demonstration in support of Palestine took place in New York last night , hundreds of people participated in it.
— 🔻🇵🇸ميّ (@MayMelhem) January 13, 2024
Demonstrators briefly blocked First Avenue near the UN headquarters and then moved north
Free Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/PzWviqElSy
In Germany, hundreds chanted in solidarity with Palestine at the communist Rosa Luxemburg Conference in Berlin.
Happening now: International solidarity chants with Palestine at the massive communist Rosa Luxemburg Conference in Berlin, Germany! pic.twitter.com/tMAiOmRu2B
— Keanu Nazari 🇵🇸 (@KeanuNazari) January 13, 2024
In France, thousands of people protested in support of Palestine chanting for an end to the Israeli apartheid and calling for equal rights for Palestinians and an immediate ceasefire.
🔴 « L’apartheid on n’en veut pas, égalité des droits ! » : à Paris, des milliers de personnes manifestent pour exiger un cessez-le-feu immédiat en Palestine
— L'insoumission (@L_insoumission) January 13, 2024
Crédits : @dbelaid pic.twitter.com/udVL9KbWxo
The director general of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation and member of the country's legal team to the International Court of Justice ICJ, Zane Dangor, stated that the team's position was "extremely" precise and accurate and based on facts that show the "systematic aggression that Palestine is subjected to."
Talking to Al Mayadeen, Dangor said his country's judicial delegation to the court clearly detailed the Israeli intent to commit genocide, explaining that the presented case was "based on statements by the Israeli Prime Minister and other officials."
"We have shown that the intent for genocide in Gaza has evolved into acts of genocide," he said, noting that it would be extremely difficult for the occupation to "ignore its commission of genocide in light of the evidence we have presented."
Dangor also pointed out that what the Israeli team did was to describe "the political reasons behind its aggression without providing legal arguments in response to what we presented," affirming that "it will be very difficult for the judges to ignore our request to stop the war on Gaza."
