12 January,2009 09:19 AM IST | | AFP
Cities around the world staged fresh protests against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week, while pro-Israel demonstrators also took to the streets.
One of the biggest rallies yesterday took place in Brussels where a march attended by 30,000 people, according to the police, ended in incidents of violence during which a regional politician was slightly injured and windows smashed, tens of thousands of students, trade unionists and politicians marched through the centre of Madrid to denounce the Israeli action in Gaza and call for peace.
Several hundred then moved on to the Israeli embassy where stones were thrown and police intervened.
Some members of the crowd wore Palestinian flags to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza, where hundreds, many of them children, have been killed since the Israeli offensive began 16 days ago.
Around 4,000 people marched through the western Austrian town of Bregenz, despite the extremely cold weather, organisers said.
In France the organisation representing Muslim bodies called on "all politicians" to end the "tragedy hitting everyone in Gaza" and invited Muslims to "express their solidarity with dignity."
Demonstrations also took place in at least three Italian cities. Jewish groups across Europe also held rallies in support of Israel and denouncing Hamas.
