Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:09:44 GMT
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People from varying ethnic and religious backgrounds have rallied across the world to protest Israel"s onslaught against the Gaza Strip.
The deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip and its killing of civilians, which has now entered its second week, has drawn people together in worldwide demonstrations.
At least 488 Palestinians have been killed and some 2,790 others have been wounded since December 27 when Tel Aviv began a weeklong airstrikes on Gaza.
Protesters in New York"s Times Square |
US
Israel"s military operation in Gaza has received both criticism and support in the United States.
Thousands of people have rallied in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington and Louisville to protest the ongoing assault on Gaza.
Groups gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington to protest against Israeli raids.
"The American media is controlled by Israel. It is censured," a protestor told Press TV reporter Jihan Hafiz, condemning the US media for a pro-Israeli stand and lack of accurate coverage of the Gaza disaster.
The protesters marched and converged at the Egyptian embassy, which neighbors the Israeli embassy. A small pro-Israeli demonstration was also held in New York where Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed support for the Israeli campaign.
Watch American protests against Israeli attacks here
Italy
Thousands of Italians gathered in Rome"s Republic Square to show their support for the victims of the Gaza invasion.
“Palestinians are experiencing something that is very close to the Holocaust. They are experiencing the killing of dignity as well as the killing of young children and innocent people,” Miriam Abu Samra, a member of Palestinian Youth Association in Italy, told Christine Legault, Press TV reporter in Rome. “We cannot really accept what is happening now, in the 21st century.”
Demonstrators carried banners and Palestinian flags, while chanting anti-Israeli slogans.
Watch protest in Italy
Germany
Berlin"s cold weather could not stop protestors from gathering to support Palestinians in Gaza and condemn the massacre underway by Israel.
Some 7,500 Germans joined the Palestinian community on the second consecutive day of protests.
German protesters shouted loud and clear that "we are with the Palestinians.”
Watch Germans warm rally in cold Berlin.
Demonstrators burning an Israeli flag in Kensington, London |
Britain
Anger over the bloody attacks extended to more than 18 cities in the United Kingdom. London witnessed tens of thousands of protesters marching from the Parliament to the offices of the British Prime Minister.
“The British government should act even-handedly. It is unbelievable world"s reaction toward robber Mugabe in Zimbabwe,” a protestor told Fareena Alam, Press TV reporter in London. “And yet when we come to the Israeli action against Palestinians, we seem to have a complete and obvious double standard, which exists not only within the government but within the British media.”
Protesters ended the demonstration after two hours of marching by leaving hundreds of shoes on Gordon Brown"s doorstep, in an allusion to act of the now-iconic journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi.
Watch Britain"s angry protest here
NAT/JG/MD
