ALWAGHT- Hundreds of protesters assembled in Stockholm's Odenplan district, Switzerland, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, which has endured over a year of devastation from Israel's ongoing conflict.
Protesters gathered on Saturday, marching from Odenplan to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, chanting “Freedom for Palestine” and displaying banners with messages such as “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Schools and hospitals are being bombed,” and “Stop the genocide.”
The rally denounced Israel’s war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, following the Al Aqsa Storm Operation by the Palestinian Hamas Resistance Movement in southern Israeli-occupied territories.
The ongoing violence in Gaza, now in its second year, has faced increasing international criticism. Officials and rights organizations have condemned the Israeli attacks and blockade, describing them as deliberate actions aimed at the destruction of a population.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has sparked widespread international outrage, with protests erupting across the globe. Demonstrators, like those in Switzerland, have consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid to the besieged territory. The blockade imposed by Israel has severely restricted essential supplies, including food, water, and medical aid, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Reports from Gaza describe catastrophic conditions, with over 45,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began, the majority being women and children. More than 100,000 have been injured, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that Gaza is on the brink of complete collapse, citing severe shortages of medical supplies, clean water, electricity, and shelter.
The situation has also reignited debates about accountability and the international community’s role in the conflict. Critics argue that world powers, including the United States and European nations, have failed to pressure Israel to end its aggression, with some even accused of enabling it through political and military support. Protests like the one in Switzerland underscore the growing global demand for justice and an end to what many describe as an ongoing genocide in Gaza.
