Solidarity demonstrations for Palestine held in Europe on Human Rights Day

Protests in solidarity with Palestine were held Sunday in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands, with hundreds of people demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

Demonstrators in Belgium gathered in front of the municipal building in Heusden-Zolder.

The event was organized to mark the UN's Human Rights Day, which is observed every year on Dec. 10, with participants carrying Palestinian and Turkish flags while advocating for justice and an end to the conflict in the region.

Demonstrators, united in their cause, prominently showcased banners bearing messages such as "Freedom for Palestine," "Stop the genocide in Gaza" and "Stop war crimes against children."

The crowd passionately expressed their support for the Palestinian cause, demanding an immediate halt to the conflict and calling on the international community to take action.

Distinguished representatives from various think tanks took the stage, delivering impassioned speeches that shed light on the dire situation in Palestine.

Protesters in the German capital Berlin gathered in front of the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the major coalition partner in the German government, calling for a cease-fire in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza and Palestine.

Chanting slogans such as "Freedom for Palestine," "Freedom for Gaza," "Cease-fire now," "Germany finances, Israel bombs" and "Stop the genocide," they marched in front of the Berlin Cathedral in the rain.

Along the march route, some Berliners showed support by waving Palestinian flags from their windows.

The protesters also carried banners and signs with messages such as "We condemn your silence," "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine - Freedom for Palestine," "From the world's largest prison to the largest cemetery," "Cease-fire," and "Justice for Palestine."

In the Swedish capital Stockholm, protesters demonstrating in solidarity with Palestine marched towards the Israeli embassy.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the Odenplan area of Stockholm in the evening to protest Israel's siege and attacks on Gaza.

Assembled in response to the calls of numerous civil society organizations in the country, they demanded an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza, an immediate cease-fire and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Chanting slogans like "Freedom for Palestine," the protesters then marched towards the Israeli embassy.

They carried banners with messages such as "Children are being killed in Gaza," "Stop the genocide," "Free Palestine" and "Boycott Israel."

In the administrative capital of the Netherlands, The Hague, thousands of people organized a demonstration in support of Palestine.

They gathered to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza, initiating a march from Koekamp Square that passed in front of the Dutch Parliament and through the city center, concluding back at the same square.

Carrying a banner that read "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," the demonstrators also held signs with messages such as "Cease-fire now," "Stop the genocide" and "Holocaust is happening in Palestine."

During the protest, Palestinian flags were waved and slogans such as "Free Palestine," "Israel is a terrorist, Netanyahu is a terrorist" and "Shame on you, Rutte, your hands are bloody" were chanted, referring to Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Israel resumed its military offensive on the Gaza Strip on Dec. 1 after the end of a weeklong humanitarian pause with the Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly 18,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 49,229 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following the cross-border attack by Hamas.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.