Pro-Palestinian demonstrations avoid condemning Hamas and Hezbollah’s violence

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities worldwide on Saturday, calling for an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza as the war approaches its first anniversary. Demonstrations occurred in London, Paris, Rome, Manila, and Cape Town, reflecting growing concern over the escalating violence in the region.

In London, around 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the city's center, while thousands more gathered in cities like Paris and Rome. However, the protests largely omitted any mention of the Israeli hostages held for over a year by the Hamas militant group, sparking criticism about the one-sided focus of the rallies.

The Gaza conflict has intensified over the past year, drawing in Iran-backed groups from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. In response, Israel has escalated its military campaign against Hezbollah, the Lebanese group supported by Iran, while Iran has launched missile attacks against Israel in recent days. The expansion of the war has heightened tensions throughout the region.

In Rome, around 6,000 protesters defied a ban to wave Palestinian and Lebanese flags in the city center, protesting the violence. Once again, there was no mention of Hezbollah, despite the group’s involvement in the broader conflict. 

The lack of condemnation for Hezbollah's actions highlights a key concern about the selective nature of the protests, as demonstrators focus exclusively on Gaza without addressing the role of Iran-backed militants.

In Berlin, a protest in support of Israel was met with counter-demonstrations from pro-Palestinian groups. Tensions ran high, and scuffles broke out between the police and protesters. Israel's defenders argue that the global wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations has contributed to an antisemitic climate, where Israel's right to exist is increasingly questioned. 

Over the past year, the scale of violence and destruction in Gaza has fueled some of the largest protests in recent memory.

Protests and Rising Antisemitism

In Manila, protesters clashed with anti-riot police after being blocked from demonstrating outside the U.S. Embassy. The activists were protesting the United States' supply of weapons to Israel, a key point of contention for demonstrators in various parts of the world. Meanwhile, further protests were planned across cities in the United States and Chile.

Notably, none of the major demonstrations included calls for the release of Israeli hostages or condemnation of Hamas or Hezbollah, organizations widely criticized for their roles in the ongoing violence.

This selective outrage from protestors has drawn attention to the lack of balance in their demands for justice, raising questions about the broader objectives of the protests.

As the situation in Gaza worsens and the conflict spreads to neighboring regions, the protests highlight both the global concern over the violence and the complex political realities shaping the region. 

However, without addressing the full spectrum of the crisis, including the actions of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, the calls for peace may seem one-sided to many observers.