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The rising call of #CeasefireNow in Europe and America

News Desk

Nov 04

As the War on Gaza is entering its fifth week, calls for a ceasefire and an end to genocide can be heard all around the world but the most striking is the response from the Western countries where people are principally supporting Palestine. However, their governments are either responding diplomatically or are siding with Israel.

USA

Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony before the Senate committee was interrupted by protestors calling for “ceasefire now”. Blinken was there to ask for emergency funding for Israel by the administration. The demonstrators kept shouting “Save the children of Gaza, cease-fire now. Where is your pride in America. Stop the brutal massacre.”
Their hands were painted red. Protesters also chanted in unison, “From Palestine to Mexico, all the walls have got to go.” They were arrested and dragged out of the hall.


This isn’t it. Hundreds of protestors have come to protest outside White House and inside the Capitol Hill building while many more are on the roads marching and protesting against Biden’s administration, questioning the aid of $14.5 billion that has been given from taxpayer money.

United Kingdom

The UK is seeing a very hostile political environment. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition, is under fire for siding with Israel’s destructive tactics. He said, “I understand the calls for a ceasefire, at this stage, I do not believe that is the correct position.” Protestors gathered outside his residence and got their disapproval registered.

More than 60 Labour MPs have called for a ceasefire while one of the Labour MPs Andy McDonald has been suspended because of seeming “deeply offensive” comments at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Masses are protesting in huge numbers on the road and criticising the politicians who are opposing the ceasefire.

France

France has banned citizens from pro-Palestine marches but according to the leading newspaper France24, thousands of demonstrators have joined the pro-Palestinian march in Paris, calling for an urgent ceasefire even though the President of the country flew to Israel to show his solidarity with its government. They remain uninhibited by the country’s official allegiance with Israel.

https://youtu.be/18OPeZtWgX0?si=NYF1oRB1qQW36nwx

Germany

Germany sees the pleas of Palestinians as synonymous with the activities of Hamas because it has banned all activities of Hamas from the country. This is the government’s attempt to hamper all the pro-Palestinian marches and protests. Additionally, schools in Berlin have been given permission to ban the traditional Palestinian headdress, the keffiyeh. Palestinian activists however have dubbed this as coming from a place of “historic guilt”.

Italy

Italy’s Georgia Meloni also paid a visit to Israel and stated that the real purpose of the Hamas attack was to create an “Unbridgeable gap between the Israelis and Palestinians, meaning that the target is all of us and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid.” Contrary to the opinion of the PM, Rome saw a protest of thousands chanting, “From River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.”

https://youtu.be/a07wKfUm0gs?si=7a–SbnRUkHKUlPg

Spain

Spain is one major country from Europe which has gained the ire of Israel but has persisted in calling out the atrocities befallen by Israel on the Gaza strip. Spanish Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belorra, asked for bringing Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court for all the crimes he has committed.

The Israeli government in response accused them of siding with Hamas. Unfazed, Spain’s premier Pedro Sanchez echoed public opinion by calling for a ceasefire. Thousands of people in different cities of the country also came out in support of Palestine.

Ireland

Ireland is leading the demands as always, having supported the Palestinian state since the 1980s. Irish leadership along with the Spanish heads have raised their concerns on the grander scale of the EU in favour of Palestine. Irish PM (taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has openly called out Israel for subjecting Palestinians to collective punishment. “What I’m seeing unfolding at the moment isn’t just self-defence. It looks, something more approaching revenge,” Varadkar said.

Scotland

Scottish First Minister Hamza Yousuf has repeatedly expressed his support for Palestine. His in-laws were trapped in Gaza leaving him fearful of the situation at the strip.

The major showdown that happened was at the Celtic Park arena in a match between Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. The crowd of more than 60,000 went against the warnings of the administration and literally showed up as the “Green Brigade” holding flags of Palestine. They wanted to prove themselves to be on the “right side of history.”

The response by the West has been rather calculated and gets tweaked from time to time but the purpose here is to show that the stance of the governments is hardly a testament to public sentiment when it comes to international issues. The overwhelming response of the public manifests that better sense must prevail and that an immediate ceasefire is the need of the hour.

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