Thousands rally across Europe in support of Palestine and against far-right extremism

Brussels (Quds News Network) – A multitude of European cities witnessed widespread demonstrations on Saturday as people took to the streets to express solidarity with Palestine and condemn the ongoing Israeli war of genocide on the Gaza Strip.
In Berlin, over 1,000 demonstrators gathered at Oranien Square in the Kreuzberg district to show their solidarity with Palestine and denounce the atrocities of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people.
Vienna also saw a march in support of Palestine, with around 1,500 people assembling at Human Rights Square. Banners with messages such as “Immediate ceasefire,” “No to genocide,” and “Israel, the terrorist” were displayed as protesters later marched to the Foreign Ministry premises, disrupting traffic on Vienna’s prominent Ringstrasse.
In Geneva, despite the cold weather, thousands gathered at Neuve Square for a march in support of Palestinians enduring intense attacks from Israel.
With a turnout exceeding 10,000, protesters walked through the city center, carrying Palestinian flags and signs expressing solidarity while chanting slogans in English, French, and Arabic.
The demonstrations featured strong opposition to the ongoing violence in Gaza, particularly the killing of children, with protesters calling for a cease-fire. Chants were directed against US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Simultaneously, more than 100,000 protesters in cities across Germany demonstrated against the far right. In Frankfurt, Hannover, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Kassel, Dortmund, Halle, Erfurt, Nuremberg, and other cities, demonstrators conveyed a unified message: “No place for the far right in Germany.”
During a rally in Hannover, State President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, urged the country to take a clear stance against the far right, defending human rights and democracy. Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, referred to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a “dangerous Nazi party” in his speech in Düsseldorf.
Protesters condemned racism, xenophobia, and far-right ideologies, expressing disapproval of AfD politicians. The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, emphasized the importance of the silent majority taking a clear stance against extremism and antisemitism.
The demonstrations come in the wake of leaked plans by the AfD to deport immigrants during a secret meeting, prompting unions and civil society organizations to call for public participation in protests against far-right extremism.
Many politicians and voters expressed support for the prohibition of the AfD, known for its anti-foreigner and anti-Muslim stances.