Rallies have been held in Germany's capital Berlin on Sunday ahead of the one-year anniversary of Israel-Gaza conflict as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations and memorial events are taking place across Europe.
Many protesters are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza after almost a year of conflict between Hamas and Israel. In Berlin's Neukoelln district, hundreds are gathering in support of Palestine and against what they are calling a genocide in Gaza.
"We demand an immediate stop of all arms and weapons being delivered to Israel and the continuous impunity Israel receives from Germany and other nations in this world," said Salah Said, a Palestinian German in the rally.
"We do not allow them to deny the rights of Palestinians to stand on the streets and express their rage against this injustice," said Mary Gillian, a Berlin resident.
Security officials in several countries are at a higher stage of alert over possible terror attacks or violent protests. Following the events in Israel on October 7 of last year, a near total ban was placed on pro-Palestinian rallies in Germany. The Neukoelln one has been allowed to go ahead with substantial police presence, but its location has been limited.
Meanwhile at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, hundreds are gathering in support of Israel. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to take part in vigils against anti-Semitism at the Jewish cultural center on Monday evening.
Protests are also taking place across Europe. In the Spanish capitol Madrid, hundreds have staged a flash mob in a call to end military operations in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In Paris, French Jews have gathered to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel. The United Kingdom also held memorial events for all the lives lost during the conflict escalations across the Middle East.
Rallies held in Europe ahead of one-year anniversary of Israel-Hamas conflict
Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip were once again forced to flee their homes amid Israeli attacks in a tragic scene that has repeatedly played out since the latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out one year ago.
Israel launched intense airstrikes across northern Gaza on Sunday, just one day before the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli towns near Gaza in October 2023. Local residents described the intense airstrikes as the heaviest bombardment since the conflict broke out.
The Gaza Civil Defense said in a statement that dozens of people were killed or wounded and trapped under the rubble of homes hit in the Israeli attacks.
The strikes focused on areas east of Jabalia, Tel al-Zaatar, and near the Indonesia Hospital, according to the Civil Defense, which added that its crews were overwhelmed by the number of homes targeted overnight.
After the Israeli attacks, roads leading to the western and southern regions of Gaza City were congested with displaced Palestinians, who packed whatever they could and drove cars or rode donkey carts, with some on bicycles or even fleeing on foot from their once familiar homes. For many, it was not the first time fleeing from air strikes in the past year alone.
"Following the distribution of leaflets by the Israeli military on Sunday morning, we hurried to flee. This is the third time that our entire family was forced to experience displacement. How much longer will this situation persist? It's a catastrophe. All Gazans are fleeing and enduring this hardship. We walked from Jabalia to here, and we have to keep walking. Our car broke down just as we set off, so we have been pushing it all along the way," said a displaced Gaza resident.
However, some residents chose to remain in Gaza City despite evacuation orders as they believe that there are no safe places in Gaza.
"I will not go to southern Gaza. Even if I die in Gaza City, I will die on my own land. People who have fled there have informed us that they are still suffering freezing temperatures in their tents there and are still being bombarded by airstrikes and artillery shelling," said another displaced Palestinian.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 41,870, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.
Palestinians displaced again as attacks continue in Northern Gaza
