The Corner Report

Cities across the world became the platform for protest on Israel's military action in Gaza today.

Organisers said more than 250,000 people marched through Spain's capital of Madrid, with other European cities including Athens, Brussels, Rome, Naples Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin also the

The protest in Madrid was the largest of demonstrations across Europe, although there were expressions of both support and opposition for the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Enlarge Protesters in Jakarta take to the streets

Thousands of protesters take part in demonstrations in downtown Madrid on Sunday

One protester makes his feelings known at the Madrid rally on Sunday

Madrid protesters filled downtown boulevards carrying banners saying 'Peace' and 'SOS Gaza' placards above pictures of a red-stained hand and mock blood-spattered bodies of children.

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem's mother Pilar, addressed a crowd estimated by organisers to number 250,000.

She said: 'The Spanish government has to do something. The Gaza Strip is now practically a concentration camp.'

'It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire,' Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told the protest in Ourense.

Thousands of supporters of the 'Imamia Students Organization' participate in a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan

Protesters in Jakarta take to the streets

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In Brussels, children carrying effigies of dead and bloodied babies were at the head of a march through the Belgian capital as demonstrators there also demanded a halt to Israel's military campaign.

Protesters burned an Israeli flag during the demonstration.

In London's Trafalgar Square, up to 15,000 demonstrators called for an end to Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and voiced support for Israeli attempts to protect the country's citizens.

'The basic, simple goal of the people of Israel is to be allowed to live in peace, without violence, without fear, and without terror,' Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor told crowds gathered in the British capital.

'We tell the terrorists, "enough is enough." They, and not us, will be defeated.'

But in a letter published in Britain's The Observer newspaper, 11 leading British Jews said Sunday that Israel's government must end its military action to achieve security.

'We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its 1million Arab citizens,' their letter said.

Signatories included Baroness Julia Neuberger and Rabbi Tony Bayfield, the head of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism.

A few thousand people in Italy marched in pro-Palestinian rallies in Rome, Naples and Verona. In Rome, municipal authorities erased graffiti - including Stars of David and swastikas - that were scrawled on Jewish-owned stores and restaurants overnight.

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* Violent Gaza protests reveal how gentle civilised Britain has changed into something very ugly indeed

A total of more than 3,000 people joined protests in support of Israel in the German cities of Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin.

In Athens, dozens of children, and their parents, carrying effigies and photos of bloodied children marched in the Greek capital to protest at continued Israeli operations in Gaza.

Other demonstrations were held in the Phillipines and Jakarta and other cities across the world.

The demonstrations passed off peacefully compared to violence seen in London on Saturday.

Violent clashes occurred between police and around 20,000 protesters outside the Israeli Embassy - with an estimated 100,000 protesters airing their views around the city.

Windows were smashed and policemen were injured - with one officer knocked unconscious in the running battles and two requiring treatment for facial injuries. A Starbucks coffee shop was completely wrecked as protesters went on the rampage in Kensington.

London protests

Demonstrators let off fireworks outside the Israeli Embassy in London as they call for the fighting in the Gaza region to stop
The damage caused to a Starbucks cafe in Kensington. Blood can be seen on the outside of the building, windows were smashed, and the inside was extensively damaged

Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews told the crowd: "The atmosphere on the streets of London has been very unpleasant in the last two days, we felt it important to reclaim the public space and make our voices heard.

"Why have we turned up in such large numbers? We are here because we believe in peace, because we believe in life, and because we want peace in life.

"We want the people of Israel to have peace, and the people of Gaza to have peace."

On Saturday there was a heavy police presence lining the route taken by the protesters.

Chanting 'free, free Palestine', the crowd was led through the streets of London by a vocal group of largely young men.

A Starbucks coffee shop in the area was stripped of chairs and had its front windows smashed, and protestors also removed fittings from the shop.

More at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1111203/Cities-world-platform-hundreds-thousands-protesters-Gaza-fighting.html