Protests in Berlin, Stockholm condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza

BERLIN/STOCKHOLM

Thousands of demonstrators protested in support of Palestine in Berlin on Saturday and in front of the US Embassy in Stockholm, condemning Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Around 1,500 gathered in front of the Platz der Luftbrücke metro station in the Tempelhof district to protest Israel's attacks before marching toward Kreuzberg in the German capital.

The demonstrators carried signs and banners with slogans such as "Germany finances, Israel bombs", "Stop the genocide" and "No to the occupation of Gaza".

A group that opened Israeli flags at the end of the march tried to provoke demonstrators.

Police placed vehicles between the demonstrators and provocateurs to prevent the tension from escalating.

The demonstration, which had extensive security measures, ended at Moritzplatz Square.

And in Stockholm, supporters of Palestine gathered in the Odenplan area.

Protesters marched to the US Embassy while demanding that Israel's attacks on Gaza be recognized as war crimes.

They also condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress.

Nearly 39,300 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 90,600 injured, since Israel launched an onslaught against Gaze, according to local health authorities.

Nearly 10 months into the Israeli assault, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul