CITIES around the world staged fresh protests yesterday both in support of and opposed to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week.
Thousands of students, trade unionists and politicians marched through the centre of Madrid to denounce the Israeli action in Gaza and call for peace.
Protesters marched between the Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta del Sol, brandishing placards that read "Stop the genocide in Palestine" and "We are all Palestinians."
Some members of the crowd wore Palestinian flags to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza, where almost 900 people have been killed since the Israeli offensive began 16 days ago. In Brussels, Muslim associations, centre-left politicians and pressure groups began their own rally to call for a halt to the conflict. Organisers said they estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 people would attend.
Around 4,000 people marched through the western Austrian town of Bregenz, despite the extremely cold weather, organisers said.
The demonstrators, including families with children, waved Turkish, Palestinian and Arab flags, played music and carried signs with slogans like "Let Gaza live ". Some wore T-shirts that said "We are all Palestinians".
Jewish groups across Europe also held rallies in support of Israel and denouncing Hamas.
Thousands of British Jews rallied in central London to call for peace for the citizens of both Israel and Gaza.
Waving Israeli and British flags and carrying placards reading "End Hamas terror! Peace for the people of Israel and Gaza", demonstrators prayed for peace as speakers demanded Hamas stop firing rockets at Israeli civilians.
Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and lawmakers addressed the demonstrators, who chanted: "Yes to peace".
Police estimated the crowd at the demonstration in Trafalgar Square at 4,000, but organisers claimed the turnout was closer to 20,000.
Counter-demonstrators lining the side of the square chanted throughout the rally, waving placards reading "We are all Hamas. Boycott Israel ", "Israeli terrorist cowards" and "End the siege - talk to Hamas ".
The hour-long rally ended with the singing of the British and Israeli national anthems. Similar pro-Israeli demonstrations were also held in the German cities of Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, with authorities saying altogether 2,000 people took part.
Charlotte Knobloch, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told crowds in Munich that "the sole responsibility of the death of civilians on both sides lay with Hamas."
In Hong Kong, more than 1,000 students and ethnic minorities took part in a protest against Israel organised on social networking website Facebook
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