Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in major cities worldwide on Saturday, demanding an arms embargo on Israel and an end to the war in Gaza as they marked three years since the October 2023 offensive.
In London, organizers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said over 250,000 protesters gathered near Parliament, carrying signs reading “End the genocide” and “Free Palestine.” Aimee Shalan, the campaign’s director, called for “full sanctions on Israel,” while London police reported 20 arrests, including two people displaying placards supporting the banned group Palestine Action . A ceasefire began a year ago, but Israel has continued near-daily strikes, killing some 1,450 Palestinians since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry .
In Berlin, around 3,500 protesters condemned Germany’s arms exports to Israel, with many criticizing the country’s military support. Germany issued €736 million in military export licenses to Israel in the second quarter of 2026, according to the German parliament . Similar marches took place in Dublin, Warsaw, and Rome, where demonstrators echoed calls for a lasting ceasefire.
In Washington, hundreds rallied outside the U.S. Capitol, demanding an immediate halt to American military aid to Israel and sanctions on the Netanyahu government. Organizers from the Palestinian Youth Movement urged lawmakers to act ahead of November’s midterm elections. Nouhad Akkar of the movement said demonstrators would hold officials accountable for U.S. military assistance, stating, “We will not let this genocide be normalized” . The group also called for public institutions to divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports more than 74,200 Palestinians have been killed in the strip since October 2023 .
