Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched inEuropean cities calling for an end to the war in Gaza, hours before PresidentDonald Trump said the US military had attacked three Iranian nuclear sitesSunday.
In London, AFP journalists saw tens of thousands ofprotesters, who waved Palestinian flags as they marched through the Britishcapital clad in keffiyeh scarves.
In Berlin, more than 10,000 people gathered in the centre ofthe city in support of Gaza, according to police figures.
And in the Swiss capital Bern, march organisers estimatedthat 20,000 people rallied in front of the national parliament, urging thegovernment to back a ceasefire.
Thousands also gathered outside a French trade fair nearParis attended by Israeli defence firms, calling for an end to war profiteeringand Israel's offensive in Gaza.
There have been monthly protests in the British capitalsince the start of the 20-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, which hasravaged Gaza.
This Saturday, protesters there carried signs including"Stop arming Israel" and "No war on Iran" as they marchedin the sweltering heat.
"It's important to remember that people are sufferingin Gaza. I fear all the focus will be on Iran now," said 34-year-old HarryBaker.
"I don't have great love for the Iranian regime, but weare now in a dangerous situation," he said, adding that this was his thirdpro-Palestinian protest.
Regional fears
Saturday's marches came after Trump announced on socialmedia that the US military had carried out a "very successful attack"on three Iranian nuclear sites.
The US president added that after the strikes Iran"must now agree to end this war".
Tehran had said Saturday that more than 400 people had beenkilled in Iran since Israel launched strikes last week claiming its arch-foewas close to acquiring a nuclear weapon -- which Iran denies.
Some 25 people have been killed in Israel, according toofficial figures.
One marcher in London, a 31-year-old Iranian student who didnot want to share her name, told AFP she had family in Iran and was"scared".
"I'm worried about my country. I know the regime is notgood but it's still my country," she said.
Gaza is suffering from famine-like conditions according toUN agencies in the region following an Israeli aid blockade.
Gaza's civil defence agency has reported that hundreds havebeen killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the US- and Israeli-backedaid distribution sites.
"People need to keep their eyes on Gaza. That's wherethe genocide is happening," said 60-year-old protester Nicky Marcus.
'Scared'
In Berlin, demonstrators gathered mid-afternoon close to theparliament, some chanting "Germany finances, Israel bombs".
"You can't sit on the sofa and be silent. Now is thetime when we all need to speak up," said protester Gundula, who did notwant to give her second name.
For Marwan Radwan, the point of the protest was to bringattention to the "genocide currently taking place" and the"dirty work" being done by the German government.
In Bern, demonstrators carried banners calling on thefederal government to intervene in the war in Gaza, expressing solidarity withPalestinians.
The rally there was called by organisations includingAmnesty International, the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the SwissTrade Union Federation.
Slogans included "Stop the occupation", "Stopthe starvation, stop the violence", and "Right toself-determination".
Some marchers chanted: "We are all the children ofGaza".
The overall death toll in Gaza since the war broke out hasreached at least 55,637 people, according to the health ministry.
Israel has denied it is carrying out a genocide and says itaims to wipe out Hamas after the Islamist group's October 7, 2023 attack onIsrael resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.
